Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, August 13, 1993 TAG: 9308130205
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: DENVER LENGTH: Medium
Later, 85,000 rain-drenched youths waved white handkerchiefs and stamped their feet until Mile High Stadium shook when the pontiff arrived there for the first major event of World Youth Day. That convocation of youths from 70 nations brought John Paul to the Rocky Mountains for a four-day visit.
When the leader of the world's 950 million Roman Catholics stepped off the plane at Stapleton International Airport, hundreds of youths cheered and chanted "John Paul Two, we love you" in an increasingly heavy rain.
The 73-year-old pontiff smiled but stooped slightly as he shook off fatigue from a three-day trip to the tropical climates of Jamaica and Mexico.
He was welcomed by Clinton, his wife, Hillary, and daughter, Chelsea.
Clinton praised him for lighting the spark that led to the demise of communism in Eastern Europe. Clinton quoted President Kennedy, the nation's only Roman Catholic chief executive: "Here on earth, we must always remember God's work must be ours."
Then, in a 20-minute speech, the pope urged the United States to use its "privileged position" to exert moral leadership - including by opposing abortion, though he never used that word.
The pope's only abortion-related remarks in that speech were repeated from an address he gave as he ended his last U.S. visit, in 1987. And he didn't repeat the sharpest reference he made then to abortion.
"America, you are beautiful and blessed in so many ways," John Paul said, quoting from the 1987 speech in Detroit. "If you want equal justice for all, and true freedom and lasting peace, then, America, defend life!
"All the great causes that are yours today will have meaning only to the extent that you guarantee the right to life, and protect the human person," he continued from his remarks six years ago. But he dropped from the end of that sentence the words "from conception until natural death."
Papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro said the pope's condemnation of abortion remained clear. "There is no possibility of misunderstanding those words," Navarro said.
Clinton, standing behind the pope and next to Ray Flynn, the U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, showed no reaction.
The pope also urged the United States to work with the United Nations and other international organizations to resolve conflicts in the Balkans, the Middle East and in some African nations.
After the speech, Clinton walked with his hand on the pope's left shoulder. "It was a great speech," Clinton said, giving a thumbs-up.
White House press secretary Dee Dee Myers said of the pope's comments on abortion: "I think he tried to make his point without being confrontational. That's what we expected."
Today, the pope celebrates Mass with U.S. bishops before a day of rest at Camp St. Malo. On Saturday, he will celebrate Mass with delegates from an International Youth Forum.
by CNB