From Welcome Remarks Made at the White House South Lawn
"Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility. Americans know this from experience – almost every town in this country has its monuments honoring those who sacrificed their lives in defense of freedom, both at home and abroad. The preservation of freedom calls for the cultivation of virtue, self-discipline, sacrifice for the common good and a sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate. It also demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one’s deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate."
Having lived through World War II, Pope Benedict knows of the incalculable sacrifices made by men and women of our country to preserve freedom. He knows just as well that the freedom for which these men and women sacrificed is not the freedom to do whatever we want, but is the freedom to pursue excellence, and the freedom to imitate the sacrifices of those who have gone before us so that many more will have life, and have it in abundance. We insult the heroic sacrifices of American predecessors by using the freedom won for us to pursue mediocrity. Let us pray with our Pope that America will be known for its virtue, self-discipline and sacrifice rather than for our self-centeredness.<
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