U.S. congressmen deliver House commendation to pope

Published: 2003-12-08

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Meeting with a U.S. congressional delegation, Pope John Paul II accepted the text of a House resolution honoring him on the occasion of his pontificate's 25th anniversary. "God bless America," the pope said Dec. 6 after being presented with the three-page commendation, which was passed in October on a unanimous vote. The resolution lauded the pontiff for many aspects of his pontificate, including his role in the fall of communism, his defense of human rights and for being a "tireless voice for morality and decency" around the world. Presenting the resolution at a brief Vatican audience were Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Mich., the sponsor of the resolution, and two of the 31 co-sponsors, Reps. Mark Foley, R-Fla., and Rick Renzi, R-Ariz.

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