U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), traveled to Rome yesterday to award Pope John Paul II the Congressional Gold Medal.

"The Senator is a devout Catholic," said Robert Traynham, Santorum's press secretary. "The Pope is certainly deserving, leading Catholics worldwide."

Santorum is part of a congressional delegation sent to award the Pope the medal. He cosponsored Senate legislation awarding the medal to the Pope.

Awarding the medal is rare and is reserved as an act of Congress, Traynham said.

"Pope John Paul II is one of the greatest pastoral leaders of all time. This medal is a small token of gratitude for his unselfish service to God and to Catholics worldwide," Santorum said in a press release.

The award is the highest honor Congress grants to civilians. Congress awarded the first medal to George Washington in 1776. Other recent recipients have included former President Gerald Ford and former South African President Nelson Mandela.