María Elvira Salazar: “I rise this morning, just having returned to Washington from Colorado, to share a few comments about the Holy Father…”

“I rise this morning, just having returned to Washington from Colorado, to share a few comments about the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. My family's faith tradition--like yours, Mr. President--since time immemorial has been Roman Catholic. In Pope John Paul II, we witnessed a great spiritual leader, a conscience and a statesman. Pope John Paul II exemplified the values and teachings of Jesus Christ in his humility, service to others, and in his struggle to have the world recognize the dignity of every human being. John Paul II lived the creed of Jesus Christ as set forth in the Book of Matthew, Chapter 23, Verses 11-12, where Jesus, speaking to the crowds and his disciples, said: The more lowly your service to others, the greater you are. To be the greatest, be a servant. But those who think themselves great shall be disappointed and humbled; and those who humble themselves shall be exalted. More than 26 years ago, in the eighth round of voting, Karol Wojtyla was elected to head the Roman Catholic Church.”