'A witness to the dignity of human life'
Bush: Pope one of great leaders in human history
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush remembered Pope John Paul II on Saturday as one of history's great leaders.
Standing at the White House with his wife beside him, less than two hours after the pontiff died, the president said, "The Catholic Church has lost its shepherd. The world has lost a champion of human freedom. And a good and faithful servant of God has been called home."
"All popes belong to the world but Americans had special reason to love the man from Krakow," Bush said. "Pope John Paul II was himself an inspiration to millions of Americans and to so many more throughout the world.
"We will always remember the humble, wise and fearless priest who became one of history's great moral leaders."
Senior officials have told CNN the president intends to go to the pontiff's funeral. The White House said it is waiting to hear from the Vatican before deciding on the U.S. delegation.
Bush ordered U.S. flags at federal buildings and facilities to be flown at half-staff until sunset on the day of the pope's burial.
Bush had visited the last June and during the trip had sought the Vatican's help in urging U.S. bishops to support his conservative social agenda. While the two men agreed on social issues, like their opposition to gay marriage and abortion, the pope had condemned the U.S. war in Iraq and the death penalty, two issues on which Bush stood firm.
Bush said in his televised statement that the pope "reminded us of our obligation to build a culture of life, in which the strong protect the weak. And during the pope's final years, his witness was made even more powerful by his daily courage in the face of illness and great suffering."
In his weekly radio address earlier Saturday, President Bush called the pope an "inspiration to us all" and said that he, the first lady and "millions of Americans joined so many around the world to pray." (Bush radio address)
