"What a Great Man"

Pictured from left, President George W. Bush, Laura Bush, former President George H. W. Bush, former President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and White House Chief of Staff Andy Card pay their respects to Pope John Paul II as he lies in state in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Wednesday, April 6, 2005. White House Photo by Eric Draper

By TOM RAUM
ROME (AP) - President Bush and his two White House predecessors paid their respects to Pope John Paul II on Wednesday, viewing his remains and kneeling to pray in St. Peter's Basilica.

Immediately after arriving in Rome, Bush and other members of the U.S. delegation went to the basilica to view the remains. Bush and his wife, Laura, were accompanied by Bush's father, former President Clinton and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

The knelt in a pew in front of the remains, bowing their heads in prayer. They spent about five minutes and then left without any comment. Hundreds of thousands of people have viewed the pope's remains since Monday. The line of mourners was stopped during Bush's visit.

The former President Bush told reporters traveling with the delegation aboard Air Force One that the pope "was unforgettable."

...Clinton, talking separately with reporters on the plane, said the pope had demonstrated support for NATO actions to end genocide in Bosnia and Kosovo.

He said he had met "two great popes" in his lifetime, John Paul II and John XXIII. Clinton said he recognized that John Paul "may have had a mixed legacy," but he called him a man with a great feel for human dignity.

And, Clinton said, noting the throngs the pope would consistently draw, said, "The man knows how to build a crowd."

Former President Carter had hoped to go as well, but backed off when told the Vatican had limited the official delegation to five "and there were also others who were eager to attend," said Jon Moore, a spokesman for the Carter Center in Atlanta. Moore said the Carters "always relish memories" of the pope's 1979 visit to Washington, the only time a pope has been to the White House.

Some of Congress' best known Catholics also will attend, although not as part of the official U.S. delegation. Among them are Sens. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., and Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California.
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This incredible gathering of millions of the world's people is united under one purpose--to pay respect to the greatness of John Paul II.

The well-known and powerful stand alongside people from all walks of life, together in mourning.

Former President Clinton apparently admired the Pope's ability to "build a crowd." That statement seems a bit crass, as does dwelling on his "mixed legacy." Of course, who ponders the question of legacy more than Bill?

At least former President Carter quit whining about not being included when he learned the Vatican was responsible for limiting the official delegation to five members, not President Bush.

And then we come to some of Congress' best-known Catholics in attendance--Ted Kennedy and Nancy Pelosi among them, John Kerry being noticeably absent.

Maybe Kennedy and Pelosi, pro-abortion lawmakers, will find time to go to Confession while in Rome.