President Bush to Attend Pope’s Funeral
The White House on Monday announced that President George W. Bush and his wife Laura will be attending Friday’s funeral for Pope John Paul II.
"It is my great honor on behalf of our country to express our gratitude to the almighty for such a man," Bush told reporters. "And of course we look forward to the majesty of celebrating such a significant human life."
When the first family goes to the Vatican for the funeral, they will be the first U.S. presidential family to attend a pope’s funeral.
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Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Bush family attended a memorial Mass for the late pontiff at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington. They sat in the front row of the sanctuary amid a crowd of thousands.
Also on Saturday, President Bush commemorated the life of John Paul and called him a “champion of human freedom” and a “good and faithful servant of God.”
“Laura and I join people across the Earth in mourning the passing of Pope John Paul II. The Catholic Church has lost its shepherd, the world has lost a champion of human freedom, and a good and faithful servant of God has been called home,” Bush said in his address, with his wife standing beside him.
Bush also called John Paul II an “inspiration to millions of Americans” and a “hero for the ages.”
“Pope John Paul II was, himself, an inspiration to millions of Americans, and to so many more throughout the world,” Bush said. “We will always remember the humble, wise and fearless priest who became one of history's great moral leaders. We're grateful to God for sending such a man, a son of Poland, who became the Bishop of Rome, and a hero for the ages”
Across America, millions of Catholics mourned and held services specially dedicated to the late pope. Flags also remained at half-mast on public buildings and businesses – including the NASDAQ stock market – held a moment of silence for John Paul II.
