Obama joins in tributes to new papal saints

'Their work and testimony did not just change the Catholic Church, but the whole world'.

United States:  Emotions are still running high all over the world following the canonizations of Roncalli and Wojtyla: 24 hours after the canonization ceremony ended in the Vatican, the President of the United States, Barack Obama, issued a statement for the occasion, which reads: "Today, Michelle and I join Catholics from all over the world in celebrating the canonization of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II. Their work and their testimony did not just change the Catholic Church, but the whole world.”

“Pope John XXIII articulated powerful roles for the Church in the cause of global peace and justice, and by convening the Second Vatican Council he revolutionized not only aspects of worship but the Catholic Church’s relationship with other faith communities,” President Obama said in his statement.

“Pope John Paul II helped inspire the Solidarity movement in Poland, a movement that spread and eventually helped to end communism in Eastern Europe, and he spoke out forcefully against apartheid in South Africa and genocide in Rwanda. He had a special rapport with young people, drawing many of them to the Church’s work and teachings,” the president added.

The canonization of the two Popes also gave President Obama a chance to pick up on the recent meeting he had with Pope Francis in the Vatican: “We celebrate these Saints and the leadership of His Holiness Pope Francis, and we look forward to continuing to work with Pope Francis and Catholics around the world to advance peace and justice for all people.”

Source: Vatican Insider