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

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

NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
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

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