REGINA COELI: AN INVITATION TO MERCY AND PARDON

VATICAN CITY, APR 11, 1999 (VIS) - Prior to reciting the Regina Coeli, Pope John Paul, recalling that today is the octave day of Easter, expressed "a special thought for our Orthodox brothers who precisely today celebrate the solemnity of Easter."

He pointed out that today is also known as "Divine Mercy Sunday: It constitutes ... a precious occasion to enter into, as individuals and as the Church, the authentic Jubilee spirit, according to the very of words of Jesus: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; He has sent me ... to preach a year of the grace of the Lord'."

"I am very happy," the Holy Father then remarked, "that many priests and faithful have gathered this morning in St. Peter's Square for a solemn Mass, presided over by Cardinal Fiorenzo Angelini, whom I cordially greet, as well as all those present, while I express my delight for your devotion to the merciful Jesus."

"How can we not feel," John Paul II asked, "the strident contrast between the invitation to mercy and pardon, which echoes throughout today's liturgy, and the violence of the tragic conflict which bloodies the Balkan region? May peace finally prevail! Here I wish to renew my appeal, dictated not only by faith, but above all by reason: May the populations coexist in harmony in their lands, may arms be silenced, may dialogue be resumed!"

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