A special statement was posted on the White House website on Thursday, April 2. That day was the 21st anniversary of the death of John Paul II.
“Today, Melania and I join Catholics and freedom-loving people around the world in honoring the immortal legacy of His Holiness Pope John Paul II – a man of deep faith, a lion of freedom and one of the staunchest defenders of human dignity who ever lived,” we read at the beginning.
Then the US president recalls important events in the life of the Polish pope. “As a young man, during the barbaric Nazi occupation of Poland, the future saint developed an indomitable conscience based on holiness, virtue and moral courage. Later, as a priest, bishop and leader of the Roman Catholic Church, he worked tirelessly as a witness of hope, proclaiming the timeless truths of the Christian faith to all the nations of the Earth. In the face of atheistic socialism, religious persecution, anti-Semitism and other threats to human dignity and freedom, “Pope John Paul II initiated a moral and spiritual revolution that led to the fall of Soviet communism and the liberation of enslaved peoples in Europe. He transformed the relationship between the Christian and Jewish communities – expressing the deep and enduring solidarity of the Catholic Church with the Jewish people. He courageously affirmed the Christian identity and religious foundations of Western civilization, stirring countless hearts towards goodness, truth and beauty,” wrote Donald Trump and his wife.
Donald Trump: Pope John Paul II triumphantly returned to his homeland
Then the American leader recalled John Paul II's first pilgrimage to Poland. “In 1979 – just eight months after ascending to the See of Peter – Pope John Paul II triumphantly returned to his homeland, Poland, then under communist rule, and in his first sermon he proclaimed that no government has the right to separate people from God. As he said in his legendary sermon: 'Man cannot fully understand himself without Christ. He cannot understand who he is, nor what is his true dignity, nor what is his calling,' nor what is his ultimate goal. He cannot understand any of this without Christ.' In response, the people sang, 'We want God,'” Donald Trump recalled.
In the final fragment, the American presidential couple refers to the legacy of John Paul II in the perspective of the history and present of the USA. “Today, our Nation similarly longs for God, not in response to the tyranny of power, but to a culture that has been hollowed out for too long. I commend the millions of young Americans who are leading this great awakening of faith, and I know that the witness of Pope John Paul II will continue to inspire millions more to find God again. As we remember the wonderful life and legacy of Pope John Paul II, especially on the 250th anniversary of American independence, we remember that to be great As a nation, we can never abandon our faith in God, our love for our country and our commitment to freedom. During this Holy Week and during Easter, I encourage every American to cherish the memory of Pope John Paul II for future generations,” emphasize Donald and Melania Trump.
