Remarks by President Bush
Holy
Father, Laura and I are privileged to have you here at the
White House. We welcome you with the ancient words
commended by Saint Augustine: "Pax Tecum." Peace be with
you.
You've chosen to visit America on your birthday. Well,
birthdays are traditionally spent with close friends, so
our entire nation is moved and honored that you've decided
to share this special day with us. We wish you much health
and happiness -- today and for many years to come.
(Applause.)
This is your first trip to the United States since you
ascended to the Chair of Saint Peter. You will visit two of
our greatest cities and meet countless Americans, including
many who have traveled from across the country to see with
you and to share in the joy of this visit. Here in America
you'll find a nation of prayer. Each day millions of our
citizens approach our Maker on bended knee, seeking His
grace and giving thanks for the many blessings He bestows
upon us. Millions of Americans have been praying for your
visit, and millions look forward to praying with you this
week.
Here in America you'll find a nation of compassion.
Americans believe that the measure of a free society is how
we treat the weakest and most vulnerable among us. So each
day citizens across America answer the universal call to
feed the hungry and comfort the sick and care for the
infirm. Each day across the world the United States is
working to eradicate disease, alleviate poverty, promote
peace and bring the light of hope to places still mired in
the darkness of tyranny and despair.
Here in America you'll find a nation that welcomes the role
of faith in the public square. When our Founders declared
our nation's independence, they rested their case on an
appeal to the "laws of nature, and of nature's God." We
believe in religious liberty. We also believe that a love
for freedom and a common moral law are written into every
human heart, and that these constitute the firm foundation
on which any successful free society must be built.
Here in America, you'll find a nation that is fully modern,
yet guided by ancient and eternal truths. The United States
is the most innovative, creative and dynamic country on
earth -- it is also among the most religious. In our
nation, faith and reason coexist in harmony. This is one of
our country's greatest strengths, and one of the reasons
that our land remains a beacon of hope and opportunity for
millions across the world.
Most of all, Holy Father, you will find in America people
whose hearts are open to your message of hope. And America
and the world need this message. In a world where some
invoke the name of God to justify acts of terror and murder
and hate, we need your message that "God is love." And
embracing this love is the surest way to save men from
"falling prey to the teaching of fanaticism and terrorism."
In a world where some treat life as something to be debased
and discarded, we need your message that all human life is
sacred, and that "each of us is willed, each of us is
loved" -- (applause) -- and your message that "each of us
is willed, each of us is loved, and each of us is
necessary."
In a world where some no longer believe that we can
distinguish between simple right and wrong, we need your
message to reject this "dictatorship of relativism," and
embrace a culture of justice and truth. (Applause.)
In a world where some see freedom as simply the right to do
as they wish, we need your message that true liberty
requires us to live our freedom not just for ourselves, but
"in a spirit of mutual support."
Holy
Father, thank you for making this journey to America. Our
nation welcomes you. We appreciate the example you set for
the world, and we ask that you always keep us in your
prayers.