Santorum Comments on the Passing of Pope John Paul II
April 2, 2005 -
Washington, DC – Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), Chairman of the Senate Republican
Conference, issued the following statement in response to the announcement today
that Pope John Paul II passed away:
“It is with a very heavy heart that Karen and I acknowledge and express our
profound sympathy for the death of one of the greatest men we have had the
privilege to meet and know, Karol Wojtyla, Pope John Paul II. We can think of no
other person who has had a greater impact on our lives.
“Karen and I have been blessed to have the opportunity to meet the Pope on five
separate occasions, three of which we were privileged to receive mass from him
in his personal chapel. On one occasion, six years ago, Karen and I, and our
children met the Pope in his personal chapel. As we received mass, we were
struck by the fervor in which Pope John Paul II prayed. As he knelt at the
altar, he deeply and intensely involved himself in prayer.
“On that same visit, we learned first hand how the Pope was so very much like
Christ. Each time the Pope stepped down to kneel before the altar, his face
brightened and he would smile at one of our children. He looked and smiled at
each of our children throughout the course of the mass, and hugged and kissed
each one of them after mass. Pope John Paul II was a man deeply devoted to
children and faithfully exemplified Matthew 19:14 when Jesus says, “Let the
little children come to me.” On that day, his noticeable love and passion for
others touched our lives and the lives of our children. We love the Pope and
will miss him dearly.
“Pope John Paul II’s compassion for children extended not only to our family but
to all corners of the world. As a great communicator for freedom and human
dignity, he urged the world to break free from the culture of death that
surrounds us and to uphold a culture of life.
“Being in the company of Pope John Paul II is an experience that Karen and I,
and our children will hold deep in our hearts and will never forget. Pope John
Paul II was an inspiration to all of us, and today the world mourns the loss of
this truly great and holy man who has touched the lives of so many.”
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