Paris, 4 April 2005. – President Stef Goris today paid tribute to Pope John Paul II as one of the most charismatic figures of our time and – by virtue of his strength of character and his word and works – an inspiration to millions. His pontificate has been one of the longest in Christianity and his own personal popularity truly remarkable.

President Goris said that Pope John Paul II had been a pontiff who was very politically aware and that great credit was due to him, in particular for his support for the Solidarity movement in Poland and for his contribution towards changing the political face of central and eastern Europe.
 

President Goris recalled the audiences Pope John Paul II had given to members of the Assembly at its extraordinary session in Rome in 1984 during the period of the reactivation of WEU and in Castel Gandolfo in 1996, a year after several central and eastern European countries had become associate members and partners of WEU and its Assembly where they were gradually more closely integrated into the European security and defence dialogue.
 

On both occasions, the Pope encouraged the parliamentarians to continue their work for security, peace and mutual understanding.

In 1996, when receiving parliamentarians at his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, he stated:

“Although it is true that in the twentieth century Europe has not always given a shining example of justice, peace and solidarity, we must rejoice at the fact that there is a clear new awareness of the need to bring about changes in European society which will ensure a future of security, cooperation and peace. I wish to think that you too are totally committed to building that better future for this continent. Security cannot consist in a permanent and ever evolving armed peace. It must be the result of a certain way of living together in society.”

Photos: Servicio Fotographico - L'Osservatore Romano Citta' del Vaticano