POPE THANKS RETREAT MASTER AT END OF SPIRITUAL EXERCISES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 27, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father spoke briefly this morning at the end of the six-day period of spiritual exercises for the Roman Curia, and thanked Bishop Andre-Mutien Leonard of Namur for his commitment as retreat master.

"You prepared for us," said the Pope, "an authentic Biblical itinerary, enriched by the voices of saints and spiritual masters. We were thus able to contemplate the face of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, starting from the center of New Testament revelation. In such a way, we have been helped to achieve a synthesis of theological contents implied in the three-year immediate preparatory period of the Great Jubilee, now imminent."

In his remarks, John Paul II also acknowledged his "brother cardinals, bishops and officials of the Roman Curia, who have directly shared in this moment of grace."

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