DO NOT LET THE LIGHT OF FAITH BE EXTINGUISHED!

VATICAN CITY, JAN 24, 1999 (VIS) - John Paul II celebrated Mass this morning at the Hermanos Rodriguez speedway in Mexico City, in the presence of well over 1 million people, and invited the faithful not to "let the light of faith be extinguished. Mexico continues to need it to be able to build a more just and fraternal society, in solidarity with all those who have nothing and who hope for a better future."

"May the word of Christ reach those who have not yet heard it! May you have the courage to give witness to the Gospel in the streets and squares, in the valleys and mountains of this nation! Promote the new evangelization, following the guidelines of the Church."

Having evoked the Church's call to conversion, which "becomes more pressing in this time of preparation for the Great Jubilee," the Pope said: "The entire Church must begin the new millennium by helping her children to purify themselves of sin and evil. May she extend her horizons of holiness and faithfulness so as to partake in the grace of Christ."

The Holy Father reminded all, particularly young people, of Christ's invitation to follow him: "Be generous, don't stop answering the Master who is calling. Follow him so as to be, like the apostles, fishers of men." He encouraged parents to be "the first in nourishing the seed of vocation in their children" and bringing them up according to the principles of the Gospel.

Lastly, he entrusted the young people of Mexico and the crusade for life to the protection of Our Lady of Guadalupe. "I entrust to her intercession the poor with their needs and wishes. Before her, with her 'mestizo' face, I lay the desires and hopes of the indigenous peoples with their own culture who hope to obtain their legitimate aspirations and the development to which they have a right. I also entrust the Afro-Americans to her care."

After Mass and before praying the Angelus, the Pontiff said that tomorrow will mark the end of the Week for Prayer for Christian Unity. "Reaching full communion among all believers in Christ is a constant aim of the Church, asking the Father with renewed fervor in preparation for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 that the desire of Christ that they might all be one, might become a reality."

"I have learned with sadness," he added, "of the barbarous assassination of Sr. Maria Aloysius of the Missionaries of Charity, in Sierra Leone, and of the worrisome information about episodes of great violence against the Church in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. No motive can justify the fierce rage against persons and institutions which for years have worked in favor of the good of everyone. Let us pray that the Lord will inspire in everyone sentiments worthy of man, who was created in the image and likeness of God."

PV-MEXICO;MASS; ANGELUS;...;MEXICO CITY;VIS;19990125;Word: 490;