WHEREAS, Pope John Paul II was called home by God on Saturday, April 2, leaving more than a billion Catholics worldwide--and 1.6 million Catholics in Washington state--mourning the loss of their bold and beloved leader, who "towered over his century, then led his church into a new millennium"; and
     WHEREAS, Pope John Paul II was born Karol Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland, in 1920, received his First Holy Communion at age 9 and was confirmed at age 18; and
     WHEREAS, He lost his mother, father, and brother all by 1941; and
     WHEREAS, He enrolled in the university and in a school for drama in 1938, but went to work in the quarry, then later a chemical factory to avoid being deported to Germany when Nazi occupation forces closed the university in 1939; and
     WHEREAS, He was called to the priesthood in 1942 and began courses in the clandestine seminary of Cracow, run by the Archbishop of Cracow, while at the same time pioneering the "Rhapsodic Theatre"--also clandestine; and
     WHEREAS, He is credited with helping Jews find refuge from the Nazis and appeared on a Nazi blacklist in Poland in 1944 for his activities in a Christian democratic underground; and
     WHEREAS, After surviving World War II, he continued his studies in the major seminary of Cracow and in the faculty of theology at the university, until his priestly ordination on November 1, 1946; and
     WHEREAS, On July 4, 1958, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Cracow by Pope Pius XII, and was consecrated on September 28, 1958, by Archbishop Baziak; and
     WHEREAS, He was nominated Archbishop of Cracow on January 13, 1964, by Pope Paul VI who made him a cardinal on June 26, 1967; and
     WHEREAS, Besides taking part in Vatican Council II, as Cardinal, he participated in all the assemblies of the Synod of Bishops; and
     WHEREAS, He took the name John Paul II on October 16, 1978, when he was elected pope at the age of 58, making him the youngest pope in 132 years, the first non-Italian pope in 455 years, and the first Pole to claim the position of Holy Father; and
     WHEREAS, His election placed him on a global stage as "winds of reform were blowing through the Soviet Union and Eastern bloc" and many call him the "most influential pope since the Reformation, playing a dual role as consolidator of church teachings and catalyzer of post-communist world politics"; and
     WHEREAS, He is credited with "toppling the totalitarian government of his native Poland in 1989, which contributed to the fall of communist Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union"; and
     WHEREAS, He is also credited for his "unique ability to talk to non-Catholics" and "address centuries-old grievances," holding power for a generation "as presidents and world leaders came and went" and as the church changed, "growing enormously in Africa and Latin America during his tenure"; and
     WHEREAS, No other pope has encountered so many individuals as John Paul II with more than 17.6 billion pilgrims having participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays, more than 8 million pilgrims participating in the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, 104 pastoral visits outside of Italy and 146 within Italy as well as 38 official visits, 738 audiences and meetings with heads of state, and 246 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers; and
     WHEREAS, Even as a revered world leader, possessing a broad range of talents as a poet, an athlete, a linguist, a playwright, an actor, a philosopher, an economic critic, a deft political strategist, and a prolific writer, Pope John Paul II "never let his followers forget he was human," and noted "his own sinfulness, his feeling of unworthiness of God's love"; and
     WHEREAS, Among his final comments, he said, "Do not weep for me. You should be joyful, as I am joyful";
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the members of the Washington State Senate join people across the earth in mourning the passing of this great champion of human dignity and freedom, this faithful and humble servant of God, and this powerful shepherd of the Catholic Church; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the members of the Washington State Senate take a moment of silence to reflect upon Pope John Paul II's contributions to this world, to celebrate his life, and to remember his guidance to "Be not afraid," as we go forth in our work to protect the vulnerable, promote human freedom, and unite the people of Washington for the common good; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted to the Vatican as well as to the Archdiocese of Seattle and to the Dioceses of Spokane and Yakima.