Remarks by Vice President Cheney at the Farewell Ceremony for His Holiness Pope Benedict...

Remarks by Vice President Cheney at the Farewell Ceremony for His Holiness
Pope Benedict XVI

WASHINGTON, April 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a
transcript of remarks by Vice President Cheney at the farewell ceremony for
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI:
John F. Kennedy International Airport
New York, New York

8:08 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Your Holiness, President and Senator Clinton, Your
Eminences Cardinal Bertoni and Cardinal Egan, Your Excellency Bishop DiMarzio,
clergy and religious, distinguished guests, and ladies and gentlemen, good
evening. It's a privilege to join all of you as our esteemed visitor, the Holy
Father, concludes his visit to the United States. It has been a memorable
week, and Pope Benedict XVI has stepped into the history of our country in a
very special way.
Some 60 million Americans belong to his fold, and all of America respects
this messenger of peace and justice and freedom. (Applause.) From the nation's
capital to this great city of New York, our citizens have received the Pope
with reverence and with affection, with songs of joy and with prayers of
thanksgiving.
Your Holiness, on your first apostolic visit to the United States, you've
encountered a nation facing many challenges, but with more blessings than any
of us could number. (Applause.) You have met a people of resonating faith who
affirm that our nation was founded under God, who seek His purposes and bow to
His will. (Applause.) You have seen a country where the torch of freedom,
equality and tolerance will always be held high; a country where you, a herald
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the leader of the Roman Catholic Church,
will always be welcome. (Applause.)
To our diverse country, you have brought a universal message of hope and
salvation. You have spoken to Americans with eloquence and feeling, and for so
many, these have been days of reflection and personal renewal. Whether in your
presence or listening across great distances, millions have found in your
words hope against despair, certainty amid confusion, and strength for
journeys of their own.
Your Holiness, here in New York you have addressed the representatives of
many nations, and celebrated the Eucharist before many thousands. And you have
moved us, in particular, by your visit to Ground Zero. (Applause.) There, you
prayed for eternal light and peace upon the innocent victims of September
11th, 2001, and you asked that the rest of us may live so that all who died on
that morning may not have been lost in vain. That is our daily meditation as
well, and it remains our daily prayer.
Your Holiness, nearly 57 years have passed since the day of your
ordination as a priest in June 1951. You might have found it hard to imagine
then that you would stand before all humanity as a teacher, a statesman, and
the shepherd of more than a billion souls. That is what God has called you to
do. (Applause.)
In these 57 years, your wisdom and your pastoral gifts have been
extraordinary blessings to our world. In these six days, you've shared those
blessings very directly for the people of the United States. Your presence has
honored our country. Although you must leave us now, your words and the memory
of this week will stay with us. For that, we are truly and humbly grateful.
(Applause.)
And so with the greatest warmth and respect, we thank you, we bid you a
safe return to Rome, and until we meet again we ask Your Holiness to remember
in your prayers the United States of America. (Applause.)
END 8:13 P.M. EDT
SOURCE White House Press Office

White House Press Office, +1-202-456-2580