In Rome to celebrate a vibrant life

Christopher Cox

Editor’s note: Congressman Christopher Cox is in Rome as part of the

U.S.’s official congressional delegation attending the funeral of

Pope John Paul II.

ROME -- Pope John Paul II, even in death, continues to exert an

extraordinary influence around the world.

As a member of our congressional leadership delegation to the

pope’s funeral, I’ve observed the global rush to be here, in this

place at this time, to pay homage to the pope who helped bring down

the Iron Curtain.

Normally, the population of Rome is about the same as Orange

County -- some 3 million -- but more than 4 million additional people

have flowed into the city since the pope died on Sunday.

Our military aircraft was one of the last permitted to land here.

From Thursday, no aircraft will be allowed to fly over the Italian

capital. Rome is beset with horrific traffic jams, despite the fact

that roads around the Vatican are closed, and all public offices and

schools will stay closed through Friday.

That’s because no less than 179 heads of state all have their own

motorcades and police escorts.

But even the near gridlock from competing motorcades was shut down

at midnight Thursday.

Immediately upon our arrival, our congressional delegation went to

St. Peter’s Basilica. As we filed past John Paul II lying in state, I

couldn’t help but think that the strength of his leadership and his

message continues to radiate.

More than 4 million people from all corners of the world, many

waiting in line longer than 15 hours, silently filed past his body.

More were arriving by the minute on charter planes and buses.

Enormous makeshift campsites outside the city have been erected to

accommodate the millions more -- including 2 million Poles -- who

won’t get that opportunity.

Yet they all are here not to mourn a man’s death, but to celebrate

a life that continues to be vibrant. And wherever they are in this

city, people can feel it.

Karol Wojtyla may have died, but it is hard to erase the image of

the new, young pope who was so recently beginning his global mission.

I remember that it was on my 26th birthday that John Paul II

commenced his papacy. Even more unforgettably, not long afterward,

both he and the president for whom I worked in the White House were

each the victims of nearly successful assassination attempts.

Together with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, these two

remarkable survivors brought an end to Soviet Communism.

And it seems only yesterday that I met with John Paul II on the

occasion of America’s presentation to him of the Congressional Gold

Medal. In truth, it was four years ago that I joined Dennis Hastert,

speaker of the House, and a handful of other members of the House and

Senate in a historic ceremony in the frescoed, 17th-century

Clementine Room in the Apostolic Palace. The pope, who was then 80,

humbled us with his response to our recognition.

“It is not for the successor of the apostle Peter to seek honors,”

he told us. “But I gladly accept the Congressional Gold Medal as a

recognition that in my ministry, there has echoed a word that can

touch every human heart.”

And then he charged us to do more in our own lives.

“I accept this award as a sign that you, as legislators, recognize

the importance of defending human dignity without compromise, so that

your nation may not fail to live up to its high responsibilities in a

world where human rights are so often disregarded,” the pope told us.

After the ceremony, John Paul II greeted each of us personally. He

gave out souvenir medals, and lingered for a group photo. And still

he didn’t leave, preferring to remain and chat. When finally he

returned to his private apartment, we Americans broke into a chorus

of “bye,” and “thank you,” and even “see you later” -- a mild breach

of etiquette by Vatican standards that provoked muted laughter among

observers, but it was a heartfelt sign of our down-to-earth affection

for this genuinely admirable human being.

Our U.S. delegation, back then, was staying in a Via Veneto hotel

right across the street from the U.S. Embassy. The entire complex was

abruptly emptied while we were there because of fears of a terrorist

attack.

Just a year ago, on a return trip to the Vatican as chairman of

the Homeland Security Committee, I met with the Vatican City

officials responsible for counter-terrorism planning and found the

extensive preparations impressive.

Those plans are now bearing fruit: To protect today’s funeral

guests, the Vatican and the Italian government have been able to

quickly add thousands of extra police, aerial surveillance,

anti-aircraft missiles, and even a warship off the Mediterranean

coast.

Today, as one of many seated before the altar in St. Peter’s

Square, I will benefit from that preparedness. My thoughts, and those

of thousands in attendance and billions watching on television, will

be of peace rather than violence, and of hope rather than fear.

It has been just a week since Pope John Paul II made his last

public appearance. We will never again see him, hear him, touch him.

He will never again utter words of blessing to the children and the

crowds outside his Vatican window.

But his spirit, and the spirituality that he encouraged us all to

develop in ourselves, will only grow in importance in the years

ahead. That is a profound legacy indeed.