Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 117.djvu/2981

 117 STAT. 2962

CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS—NOV. 19, 2003

visits to areas of historic conflict, including Ireland and the Holy Land; Whereas Pope John Paul II visited Cuba to speak directly to the Cuban people and their communist rulers in 1998, calling for political and religious freedom, the release of political prisoners, a recognition of the right to express one’s faith ‘‘in the context of public life’’, and the importance of fundamental human dignities, including that ‘‘each person enjoying freedom of expression, being free to undertake initiatives and make proposals within civil society, and enjoying appropriate freedom of association’’ is a necessity; Whereas Pope John Paul II has traveled farther than any other Pope in history, traversing nearly three quarters of a million miles, visiting more than 125 countries, including African nations never before visited by a Pope, being seen by more people than anyone in human history, and evangelizing to more than 6,000,000 people in the closing mass of World Youth Day ’95 in the Philippines; Whereas Pope John Paul II has changed the course of history, leading the Catholic Church through a dramatic and remarkable period, and into Christianity’s third millennium; Whereas Pope John Paul II has devoted his life to the amelioration of the human cost of terror and oppression through his dedication to truth, forgiveness, and the development of a vibrant public moral culture; Whereas Pope John Paul II has articulated the importance of individual liberty being undergirded by a ‘‘moral order’’, has embraced the poor and oppressed masses of the world, and encouraged governments and the faithful to attend to the needs of those who are less fortunate; Whereas Pope John Paul II has brought hope and inspiration to hundreds of millions of people around the world oppressed by tyranny, hunger, disease, and despair; Whereas Pope John Paul II has worked tirelessly to bring peace to regions of the world that have been driven by strife, intolerance, hatred, and violence for far too long; and Whereas the Presidential Medal of Freedom is considered the highest civilian award of the United States Government: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress urges the President, on behalf of the United States, to present the Presidential Medal of Freedom to His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, in recognition of his significant, enduring, and historic contributions to the causes of freedom, human dignity, and peace and to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of His Holiness’ inauguration of his ministry as Bishop of Rome and Supreme Pastor of the Catholic Church. Agreed to November 19, 2003.

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