Bill Clinton: “Archbishop McCarrick, Archbishop Cacciavillan, Cardinal Keeler, Father Theroux, the members of the Cabinet, the Members…”

“Archbishop McCarrick, Archbishop Cacciavillan, Cardinal Keeler, Father Theroux, the members of the Cabinet, the Members of the Congress, Governor Whitman, Mayor James, honored guests: Your Holiness, it is a great pleasure and an honor to welcome you back to the United States. You seemed to bring us the rain, but we need the rain, and we thank you for that. Your return has been greatly anticipated by the American people, and as you have gathered from the welcome of the children and the not-so-young, all Americans are very, very happy to see you. This is our third opportunity to visit. I look forward to our discussion, and I am grateful that your voice--for peace and hope and for the values that support every family and the family of humanity. On this, your fourth visit to our Nation, you will see an America striving to build on our ideals of peace and charity, justice and tolerance. When you visit the United Nations and you speak to the General Assembly, you will be retracing the steps of Pope Paul VI in his visit to the United States which began 30 years ago this day. He became the first Pontiff to visit our beloved country when he spoke to the United Nations in the name of peace. The Catholic faithful here in America have always taken an active role in making our country better. The Catholic Church helps the poor, the children, the elderly, the afflicted, and our families. You will see their handiwork here in the city of Newark and throughout your visit.…”