POPE AND PATRIARCH EXCHANGE SIGN OF PEACE AT FINAL MASS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 9, 1999 (VIS) - This afternoon in Bucharest's Podul Izvor Park, the Holy Father concelebrated a Mass with Catholic bishops and cardinals, in the presence of Orthodox Patriarch Teoctist. The Pope and Patriarch entered together, exchanged a fraternal embrace at the sign of peace and, at the end of the celebration, together blessed the faithful assembled.

"Not long ago," the Pope remarked in his homily, "it was unthinkable that the Bishop of Rome could visit his brothers and sisters in the faith living in Romania. Today, after a long winter of suffering and persecution, we can finally exchange a sign of peace and together praise the Lord."

He greeted Orthodox Patriarch Teoctist, and then said that he "spiritually embraces each and every Catholic of Latin rite and those of the Romanian-Byzantine rite, equally dear to my heart."

The Holy Father said that, in reviewing the years leading up to the new millennium, we see "signs of divine mercy," such as Vatican Council II, when "the Church became profoundly aware of being the people of God, on journey towards fulfilling the Kingdom. We sense the mystery of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church and we sense the value of her mission in a special way here, in Romania, where Christians belonging to both Eastern and Western traditions live side by side."

"In the name of this great ecumenical inspiration," affirmed the Pope, "I now address all believers in Christ who live in Romania. I am here among you, driven only by the desire for authentic unity and the will to fulfill the petrine ministry which the Lord entrusted to me among brothers and sisters in the faith."

John Paul II exhorted believers to be fearless, as were the Apostles, in witnessing to the faith. "Dearest Catholics of Romania, I know well how much you suffered in the years of the harsh communist regime; I also know with what courage you persevered in your fidelity to Christ and His Gospel. Now, on the threshold of the third millennium, do not be afraid: Open wide the doors of your hearts to Christ the Savior."

PV-ROMANIA;MASS;...;BUCHAREST;VIS;19990510;Word: 350;