MAKE THE RICHES OF GOD'S WORD MORE AVAILABLE TO FAITHFUL

VATICAN CITY, MAY 4, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was a message from the Pope to Bishop Wilhelm Egger, president of the World Catholic Federation for the Biblical Apostolate, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of its founding.

John Paul II says in the message, written in English and dated May 1: "It is my fervent hope that you and your colleagues will continue to do all you can to ensure that the inexhaustible riches of God's word are made ever more available to Christ's faithful, that they may be better prepared for the challenges that engage their faith."

The Pope affirms that, "in helping the bishops to teach the way of truly biblical prayer, preaching and theology, the federation stands not on the margins of the Church's pastoral life but at its very heart, and that is a reason for great gratitude. I also encourage you to foster the ecumenical dialogue which follows when Scripture is studied and shared by people of different religious allegiances."

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