POPE'S FIRST TRIP TO COUNTRY WITH ORTHODOX MAJORITY

VATICAN CITY, MAY 7, 1999 (VIS) - John Paul II departed at 9 a.m. this morning from Rome's Fiumicino Airport, and landed at Baneasa Airport in Bucharest, Romania at 12 noon local time (11 a.m. in Rome), thus beginning his 86th papal trip outside Italy.

Following the welcome and the speeches by Romania's President Emil Costantinescu and by His Beatitude Teoctist, patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Pope thanked them for the invitation to visit their country: "This is the first time that divine Providence has offered me the opportunity to make an apostolic trip to a country with an Orthodox majority."

The Holy Father added: "I trust that my visit may help to heal the wounds inflicted on relations between our Churches during the last 50 years and to open a new era of reciprocal collaboration."

The Pope underlined that the intention of his journey was "to confirm those links between Romania and the Holy See which have had such importance for the history of Christianity in the region."

"During this century that now draws to a close, your country has experienced the horrors of repressive totalitarian rule. ... The Communist regime repressed the Church of Romanian-Byzantine rite united to Rome and persecuted bishops and priests, religious and laity, many of whom paid their fidelity to Christ with their blood." The Pope paid homage to Cardinal Alexandru Todea, archbishop emeritus of Fagaras and Alba Julia, who spent 16 years in jail and 27 years under house arrest and who "continues to faithfully serve the Church," as well as to the members of other Churches and religious communities who also suffered persecution.

The Pope concluded: "In order to close the wounds of a recent past that is both harsh and painful, patience and wisdom as well as a spirit of initiative and of honesty are all required. This wearisome but exalted task, falls to all, above all it is a challenge for you, the beloved youth, who are the future of this generous people."

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