Honoring the Life and Achievements of his Holiness Pope John Paul II and Expressing Profound Sorrow on his Death

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

One of the great experiences I have had in life was to have an audience with Pope John Paul II. I traveled to Rome with the former mayor of the city of Chicago, Harold Washington; two other colleagues of mine at the time, a Jewish gentleman, Larry Bloom, and a Polish gentleman, Bill Krystaniak. The four of us met with the Pope, two African Americans, a Jewish person, and a Pole. When we were ready to leave, Bill Krystaniak replied, ``We can actually end our trip because one of my wishes has been fulfilled.''

Each one of us left with a tremendous sense of peace and tranquility, knowing that we had been in the presence of encompassing greatness, one who fought poverty, ignorance, discrimination, totalitarianism, whose arms were wide enough and broad enough and strong enough to embrace the hopes of the world.

I strongly support this resolution. Chicago is home to more Poles than any city in the world with the exception of Warsaw, and I know that we experienced a tremendous sense of pride, not only our Polish citizens, but all of Chicago, knowing that Pope John Paul II, had passed our way.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source