Date: 2005-04-09
What World Leaders Say About John Paul II
ROME, APRIL 9, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Throughout the week, praise for
the
person of John Paul II came from many corners, including the
political realm. Below is a sampling of what world leader said about
the late Pope.
* * *
Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, president of
Italy
"He has transmitted hope and fidelity to all of us. He has sculpted
consciences with values that give meaning and dignity to people's
lives and to human society. John Paul II believed in the force of
the
spirit and has witnessed, with his indomitable courage and serenity
in suffering, the fortitude that enables us to affront any obstacle,
to work for good in every circumstance. He will continue to live in
our hearts, in our acknowledgment of his testimony and of his
example. He has been a true apostle for peace in the whole world.
Italy, Rome -- his diocese that is congregating in St Peter's Square
-
- cry for the loss of a father, for a loved person."
Aleksander Kwasniewski, president of
Poland
"A great Pope -- our most outstanding fellow countryman, the
Holy
Father, a good father to all of us, believers and nonbelievers,
followers of different religions -- is no more."
Silvio Berlusconi, prime minister of
Italy
"We are grateful to him for the tireless and difficult work
he
carried out unstintingly against all forms of totalitarianism,
violence, oppression and moral degradation, all in the name of the
values of the Catholic Church, which are the supreme values of human
dignity and solidarity."
George W. Bush, president of the United
States
"Pope John Paul II was, himself, an inspiration to millions
of
Americans, and to so many more throughout the world. We will always
remember the humble, wise and fearless priest who became one of
history's great moral leaders. We're grateful to God for sending such
a man, a son of Poland, who became the Bishop of Rome, and a hero
for
the ages."
Gerhard Schröder, German chancellor
The Pope had "influenced the peaceful integration of Europe
in many
ways. By his efforts and through his impressive personality, he
changed our world."
Lech Walesa, former Polish president
and Solidarity leader
"I think we shall keep discovering how much the Holy Father
worked
for us and struggled for us. He spoke to us through his illness and
through his suffering served to the very end.
"Without him there would be no end of communism or at least
-- it
would have come -- much later and the end would have been bloody."
Shimon Peres, vice premier of Israel
The Pope "embodied the best that is within all mankind as well
as the
commonness of humanity. ... His actions and statements transformed
relations between the Catholic and Jewish faiths, and made a
fundamental impact on the struggle against anti-Semitism."
Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian leader
"We will miss him as a distinguished religious figure, who devoted
his life to defending the values of peace, freedom and equality."
Fidel Castro, president of Cuba
"Humanity will preserve an emotional memory of the tireless
work of
His Holiness John Paul II in favor of peace, justice and solidarity
among all people."
Mohammad Khatami, Iranian president
"It is with extreme sadness that we hear of the passing of the
leader
of the world's Catholics, His Holiness Pope John Paul II, who
commanded the three paths of religious learning, philosophical
thought and poetical and artistic creativity."
Kofi Annan, U.N. secretary-general
"Quite apart from his role as a spiritual guide to more than
a
billion men, women and children, he was a tireless advocate of peace,
a true pioneer in interfaith dialogue and a strong force for critical
self-evaluation by the Church itself."
Gloria Arroyo, president of the Philippines
"He was a holy champion of the Filipino family and of profound
Christian values that make everyone of us contemplate ... what is
just, moral and sacred in life."
Vicente Fox, president of Mexico
"John Paul II was an exceptional man, his legacy will transcend
generations."
Jacques Chirac, president of France
[History] "will retain the imprint and the memory of this exceptional
sovereign pontiff, whose charisma, conviction and compassion carried
the evangelical message with unprecedented resonance on the
international stage."
Tony Blair, prime minister of the United
Kingdom
"The world has lost a religious leader who was revered across
people
of all faiths and none. He was an inspiration, a man of extraordinary
faith, dignity and courage."
Mary McAleese, president of Ireland
"His trust in the future, his never-wavering commitment to the
worth
of each human life and his witness under the burden of personal
suffering constituted a sign of great value in the modern age."
Levy Mwanawasa, president of Zambia
"To the departed Holy Father, I say we believe that it is not
your
wish to mourn you in our grief but to celebrate the achievements you
humbly made to realize and emulate your life. But if you see tears
rolling in our eyes, it is because we cannot bear saying farewell
dear father."
Armando Guebuza, president of Mozambique
Mozambican President Armando Guebuza described the death of John
Paul
II as an "irreplaceable loss" for the Mozambican people,
because of
the Pope's "tireless collaboration and dedication to the promotion
of
human and social development."
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam,
president of India
"The demise of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II was received
with deep
shock and profound sorrow, by the people of India who considered him
a champion of world peace and harmony. His was an endearing voice
of
reason against all forms of intolerance, inhumanity and injustice.
His ceaseless efforts to advocate the cause of human values will
always be remembered as the beacon of hope against the daunting
challenges of today's world."
Álvaro Uribe, president of Colombia
The new generations that have only known one Pontiff, who today
experience his loss, have in His Holiness a model of democracy,
solidarity, of fighting without giving in. A model of peace and love,
without exception or hate.
John Howard, prime minister of Australia
"The Pope was an inspirational leader not only to 1 billion
Catholics
around the world but he was an exemplar of the Christian life for
all
Christians."
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, president
of Brazil
"The death of Pope John Paul II profoundly saddens the Brazilian
people. His three visits to Brazil are still remembered with vivid
emotion. ... Brazil feels sorrowful for the loss of one of the men
who positively marked the course of contemporary history."
Mikhail Gorbachev, former Soviet president
"I mourn his loss. We knew it was coming to this. What can I
say --
it must have been the will of God. He acted really courageously. His
devotion to his followers is a remarkable example to all of us."
José Manuel Barroso, president
of the European Commission
"Europeans will never forget his fight for peace and human dignity."
General Musharraf, president of Pakistan
"The Pope had rendered incredible services for peace, had brought
people closer belonging to different faiths."
Olusegun Obasanjo, president of Nigeria
"Pope John Paul II was not only the leader of Catholics around
the
world, including Nigeria, but also showed commitment and courage in
his quest for mutual tolerance, harmony and unity among the world's
religions."
Vaclav Klaus, president of the Czech
Republic
"I consider John Paul II to be one of the most outstanding
personalities of the whole 20th century. He was a wise and sensitive
man, who dedicated his entire life to the ideals of love to man,
ideals of human kindness, humility, helping the weak ones, peace,
human freedom, dignity, and responsibility. In a fundamental way he
influenced the struggle for democracy in the countries of the
Communist bloc and it was also his merit that these countries live
in
freedom again."
