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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives joins people |
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around the world in honoring the service of His Holiness Pope |
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Benedict XVI, who will retire from the papacy on February 28, 2013, |
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after eight years leading the Roman Catholic Church; and |
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WHEREAS, The spiritual leader of the world's 1.2 billion |
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Roman Catholics, Pope Benedict XVI is celebrated for his defense of |
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Christian values and for his emphasis on the inviolability of human |
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life from conception to natural death; and |
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WHEREAS, An advocate for social justice, he interceded on |
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behalf of migrants and refugees worldwide, speaking for those whose |
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voices would not have otherwise been heard, and he has called for an |
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equitable distribution of world resources and for environmental |
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protections to ensure human health; and |
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WHEREAS, A proponent of religious freedom, tolerance, and |
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cooperation, Pope Benedict deepened ties during his tenure with |
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many religions, including Judaism and Islam; within his own Church, |
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he expanded the use of the traditional Latin mass and eased rules |
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regarding the conversion of Anglicans to Catholicism; and |
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WHEREAS, Born Joseph Ratzinger on April 16, 1927, in Marktl |
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am Inn, Germany, he was ordained a priest in 1951 and was a |
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professor of theology at numerous European universities; he served |
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as the archbishop of Munich and Freising, and he was made a cardinal |
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in 1977 by Pope Paul VI; he also served as the prefect of the |
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Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and as the vice dean of |
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the College of Cardinals; in April 2005, he was elected to the |
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papacy at the age of 78, the oldest cardinal to become pope in 275 |
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years; and |
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WHEREAS, Known as an academic, scholar, and teacher, Pope |
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Benedict is a prolific writer, having authored 66 books over the |
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course of his life; he has also penned numerous articles, |
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established a journal devoted to theology, and overseen the |
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preparation of the new Catechism of the Catholic Church; he is noted |
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for writings that promote traditional Christian values in the face |
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of the declining moral principles of the modern world; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the service of His Holiness Pope |
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Benedict XVI; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That when the Texas House of Representatives |
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adjourns this day, it do so in honor of Pope Benedict XVI. |