En route to WACO, Texas, April 15, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – US President George W. Bush, on his flight home after attending Pope John Paul II’s funeral at the Vatican, sat down with the seven news reporters who traveled with him aboard Air Force One to talk about Jesus, his personal faith, and the life of Pope John Paul II.
“This will be one of the highlights of my presidency, to have been at this great ceremony,” Bush said, according to a White House release. “I knew the ceremony today would be majestic, but I didn’t realize how moved I would be by the service, itself; by the beautiful music. And then I think the thing that struck all our delegation most intensely was the final scene of the plain-looking casket . . . being carried and held up for the seal to be seen, and then the sun pouring out.”
Reporters said they spent 47 minutes with the President, talking about his faith, his reflections on Pope John Paul II, and other policy issues.
When asked whether the Pope’s legacy would be a mixed one, as suggested by former president Bill Clinton, Bush replied, “I think Pope John Paul II will have a clear legacy of peace, compassion, and a strong legacy of setting a clear moral tone.” Later, he added, “A clear and excellent legacy, if you don’t mind adding the word ‘excellent.’”
“. . . His struggle at the end of his life and the dignity with which he struggled was a clear example of Christ’s influence in his life . . . he received his great power and strength from the Almighty. I would define Pope John Paul II as a clear thinker who was like a rock. And tides of moral relativism kind of washed around him, but he stood strong as a rock. And that’s why millions – one of the reasons why millions came to admire and love him.”
When asked whether he was ever confronted by doubts in his own faith in God, Bush replied, “I think a walk in faith constantly confronts doubt, as faith becomes more mature . . . But the Lord works in mysterious ways, and during all our life’s journeys we’re enabled to see the Lord at work if our eyes are open and our hearts are open. And today – you can analyze and you can look at the coffin being held, with the sun shining on it, anyway you want. I happen to feel it was a special moment that was part of a special ceremony for a special person. And it helped strengthen my faith.”
“There is no doubt in my mind there is a living God,” he added. “And no doubt in my mind that Lord, Christ, was sent by the Almighty. No doubt in my mind about that.”
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