- By DAVE GOSSETT
STEUBENVILLE - Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and his wife, Callista, came to Franciscan University of Steubenville on Monday to talk about Pope John Paul II, the fall of Poland's communist government in 1979 and American politics today.
Gingrich, who converted to Catholicism in 2009, said the late pontiff "was amazing because of what he lived through under the Nazis and later the Soviets." The Gingriches presented the film "Nine Days That Changed the World" about the pope's nine-day visit to his homeland after his election to the pontificate.
"When Pope John Paul II went to Poland in June 1979 and held an open air Mass, 3 million people showed up. They looked around and suddenly realized, 'There are more of us than there are of them. Why should we be afraid of them?'" Newt Gingrich told an audience of about 750 people in the university's Finnegan Fieldhouse.
"Pope John Paul II in 1979 called upon the Holy Spirit to come down upon the world and bring change to the world, Poland and eastern Europe. This teaching of the pope applies to every country and every person today," Newt Gingrich added. "I would urge you to think about your life and your country and how John Paul II grew up under the Nazis and later the Soviets with much more greater danger than we face today."
According to a news release issued by the university, "the movie was inspired in part by the recent wave of negative coverage of the Church by the media."
"Newt Gingrich, well aware of how scandal can obscure great achievements, decided to highlight one of the great lasting contributions of Pope John Paul II. The Communist authorities were fearful of the impact of the pope's visit to Poland, and so they did everything in their power to minimize its effect. Most of the television footage still extant features wide shots panning the audience as well as distant shots of the Pope, often with his voice drowned out by commentary," said a university spokesperson.
During a brief meeting with news reporters before the airing of the film, Gingrich said he was "very pleased and happy that John Kasich won the governor's race in Ohio and that John Boehner will be the next speaker of the House of Representatives."
He said Congress should focus on creating jobs, maintaining tax cuts for all Americans and repealing Obamacare.
"John Boehner is a very solid and competent guy," he added.
Gingrich also said the Tea Party movement "represents populist conservatism similar to supporters of Ronald Reagan and Ross Perot. Without that support we would not have accomplished the Republican Revolution in 1994."
Gingrich also said Tea Party members should watch the government carefully "and complain loudly when the wrong thing is done."
"Bipartisanship is possible if both parties are willing to understand the American people," said Gingrich.
STEUBENVILLE - Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and his wife, Callista, came to Franciscan University of Steubenville on Monday to talk about Pope John Paul II, the fall of Poland's communist government in 1979 and American politics today.
Gingrich, who converted to Catholicism in 2009, said the late pontiff "was amazing because of what he lived through under the Nazis and later the Soviets." The Gingriches presented the film "Nine Days That Changed the World" about the pope's nine-day visit to his homeland after his election to the pontificate.
"When Pope John Paul II went to Poland in June 1979 and held an open air Mass, 3 million people showed up. They looked around and suddenly realized, 'There are more of us than there are of them. Why should we be afraid of them?'" Newt Gingrich told an audience of about 750 people in the university's Finnegan Fieldhouse.
"Pope John Paul II in 1979 called upon the Holy Spirit to come down upon the world and bring change to the world, Poland and eastern Europe. This teaching of the pope applies to every country and every person today," Newt Gingrich added. "I would urge you to think about your life and your country and how John Paul II grew up under the Nazis and later the Soviets with much more greater danger than we face today."
According to a news release issued by the university, "the movie was inspired in part by the recent wave of negative coverage of the Church by the media."
"Newt Gingrich, well aware of how scandal can obscure great achievements, decided to highlight one of the great lasting contributions of Pope John Paul II. The Communist authorities were fearful of the impact of the pope's visit to Poland, and so they did everything in their power to minimize its effect. Most of the television footage still extant features wide shots panning the audience as well as distant shots of the Pope, often with his voice drowned out by commentary," said a university spokesperson.
During a brief meeting with news reporters before the airing of the film, Gingrich said he was "very pleased and happy that John Kasich won the governor's race in Ohio and that John Boehner will be the next speaker of the House of Representatives."
He said Congress should focus on creating jobs, maintaining tax cuts for all Americans and repealing Obamacare.
"John Boehner is a very solid and competent guy," he added.
Gingrich also said the Tea Party movement "represents populist conservatism similar to supporters of Ronald Reagan and Ross Perot. Without that support we would not have accomplished the Republican Revolution in 1994."
Gingrich also said Tea Party members should watch the government carefully "and complain loudly when the wrong thing is done."
"Bipartisanship is possible if both parties are willing to understand the American people," said Gingrich.
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