PAPAL THANKS TO ROACO FOR ASSISTING EASTERN CHURCHES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 24, 1999 (VIS) - This morning the Pope received members and friends of ROACO, Works of Assistance to the Eastern Churches, and thanked them for their dedication, concern and aid, both financial and spiritual, to Eastern Churches. ROACO is an organism which falls under the auspices of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, whose prefect is Cardinal Achille Silvestrini.

"Through your commitment," said John Paul II, "you ease situations of need, animate socio-pastoral initiatives, help countries divided by conflict, and come to the aid of many persons struck by poverty and many forms of marginalization.

"In particular," he added, "you sustain the Eastern Catholic communities in the work of evangelization." He stressed that the witness to faith and service to charity are absolutely essential to this work.

"With the Jubilee," the Pope then pointed out, "the center of ecclesial attention will be Jerusalem, Nazareth, Bethlehem and the entire Holy Land. ... I know you are taking special care of the holy places. ... I invite you above all not to disappoint the hopes of young people and to help Christian families not to lose hope for homes or jobs, even though they face socio-economic difficulties and a precarious environmental context."

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