For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 10, 2001
Remarks by the President at Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony Honoring John Cardinal O'Connor
St. Patrick's Cathedral
New York, New York
Listen to the
President's Remarks
2:42 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you, Mr.
Speaker. Your Eminence; Governor Pataki and Mrs. Pataki;
Mayor Giuliani. I want to thank Chuck Schumer and Vito
Fossella for such beautiful words. Senator
Clinton. Distinguished members of the United States
Congress. Members of my Cabinet. Mary Ward.
Dorothy Hamilton and members of the O'Connor
family. Reverend Ogilvie and Father
Coughlin. Leaders of the Catholic Church. Maureen
O'Flynn, thank you for sharing your angelic voice with us
today. (Applause.) My fellow Americans.
Thank you for the welcome to your city and for
the seat of this archdiocese. I especially want to thank the
police and fire departments for the presentation of the colors, and
their service to this community. (Applause.)
John Cardinal O'Connor was fond of recalling the greeting he received
when visiting the Vatican. Pope John Paul II would meet him
with these words: "How is the Archbishop of the capital of
the world?" For me, on my first visit as President, it's a
pleasure, Mr. Mayor, to be in the capital of the
world. (Applause.)
This is a
happier occasion than the day when we said our good-byes at a solemn
Mass in a mourning city. It takes a lot to bring all of New
York to a pause. But that's what happened when the earthly
remains of John Cardinal O'Connor were laid to rest in this beautiful
cathedral.
From the distance of a year, his
character and his contributions only seem larger. We
remember a life of good works, strong faith, and great influence.
For many here today, those memories are still
vivid and very personal. For parishioners, it may be the memory of an
imposing figure who stood here so many times, looking every inch a
cardinal -- fearing, it seemed, nothing, and having an opinion, it
seemed, on everything.
For thousands of
veterans, it's the memory of a chaplain who counseled them, heard their
confessions, and attained the rank of admiral. For the
working men and women, it will be the memory of an advocate, someone
who rose to great prominence, but remained the proud son of a union man
who honored hard work.
The poor and
immigrants of this city will always remember their staunch friend who
defended their interests and understood their struggles. Many families
remember the church leader who came to AIDS patients with care and
love.
Parents here and in Scranton will
remember the priest who gave so much time and special care to boys and
girls with disabilities. And the world will remember the
gallant defender of children and their vulnerability, innocence, and
their right to be born. (Applause.)
Many decades from now, these living memories of the man will begin to
pass. Fewer and fewer will have known the sound of his
voice, the largeness of his presence, the sting of his rebuke, his
marvelous sense of humor, or the breadth of his
compassion. But future generations will know at least this
about the 11th leader of the archdiocese: He was a man who
left a mark on his time. A moral leader not only in title,
but in truth. A defender of the faith, the very kind who have kept the
faith alive for two millennia. A great man in a high
place. And also for 80 years on this Earth, a good person, a
cheerful giver and a much loved soul.
Posterity will know this: The Congress of the United States,
in respect and gratitude, directed that a gold medal be struck bearing
Cardinal O'Connor's name and image. And on this day, on
behalf of the American people, I'm honored to present the Congressional
Gold Medal to the family and to the successor of John Cardinal
O'Connor.
God bless
America. (Applause.)
END
3:50
P.M. EDT
|