VATICAN CITY, JUN 4, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was Pope John Paul's Message to Archbishop Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, who visited Belgrade, Yugoslavia, yesterday, on the occasion of the day of prayer for peace in the Balkans.
The text of the Message, written in English and dated June 1, follows:
"Through you I wish to express my closeness to all those gathered in spiritual union with the day of prayer that I shall be leading in Rome on June 3, to implore from Almighty God the gift of peace for all the peoples of the Balkans. For so long now too many have suffered. Countless numbers have been driven from their homes, others have been innocent victims of military action. It is my hope that all those who share some responsibility for resolving the present conflict will have the courage to embrace peace. Only justice, dialogue and reconciliation will enable this part of Europe to be - at last and always - a place where diversity does not mean confrontation but mutual enrichment. To all present I willingly impart my Apostolic Blessing."
Archbishop Nguyen Van Thuan celebrated a Mass for peace in Belgrade's cathedral. Bishop Diarmuid Martin, council secretary, visited a refugee camp in Macedonia and Msgr. Giampaolo Crepaldi, under-secretary, visited refugees in Albania.
MESS;PEACE; BALKANS;...;BELGRADE; NGUYEN; MARTIN;VIS;19990604;Word: 240;
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