Honoring Pope John Paul II

HONORING POPE JOHN PAUL II

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Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise today, to join my colleagues and the rest of the world in the remembrance of Pope John Paul II.

Since the passing of the Pope, it has often been noted that this Pope was by far the most traveled of any in history--quite possibly the one person seen live by the most people of all time.

We were fortunate in my State to receive the Pope twice, once in Anchorage in 1981 and then again in Fairbanks in 1984. During his Anchorage visit, the Pope celebrated Mass with more than 40,000 Alaskans in a downtown Anchorage park. It was the largest gathering of Alaskans up until that time, and beginning in the cold, wet, early February morning, until his departure, crowds lined the streets and Alaskans strained to get a glimpse of the Pontiff. Always known for his compassion and generosity, the Pope extended his visit in Anchorage more than an hour to meet in private with 150 disabled Alaskans at Holy Family Cathedral.

The Pope's visit to the Fairbanks International Airport was even more momentous, and was transformed into the site of major diplomacy. It was an opportunity for the Pope to meet with President Ronald Reagan, who was returning from overseas and, like the Pope, stopped in Alaska to refuel his aircraft. The President, who had arrived the previous night, was the first to greet the Pope. They visited briefly and then the Pope surprised many by making an unexpected tour through the crowd that waited outside the airport in the drizzling rain.

While in Alaska, the Pope spoke about the unity of faith that binds Alaska's diverse Catholic community--from Native Alaskans to people from all over the world. During his Anchorage stopover, John Paul II even enjoyed a brief ride on a dogsled.

Like many Americans and individuals all over the world, I grieve for the loss of the Holy Father. From his humble beginnings to the principal voice for human rights for over two decades, Pope John Paul II will always be remembered. He was an extraordinary, inspirational and spiritual person and the world is a better place thanks to his service and spiritual leadership.

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