POPE BLESSES NEW LIBRARY BUILDING AT UNIVERSITY OF WARSAW

VATICAN CITY, JUN 11, 1999 (VIS) - This evening, following the closing of the Second National Plenary Synod in St. John the Baptist Cathedral, the Holy Father went to the University of Warsaw to bless the new library building. He was welcomed by the cardinal primate, the university's rector, senate and professors, the minister of education and members of the Polish Academy of Science.

The library dates back to 1817, a year after the university was founded. Today it houses two and a half million volumes, including 294,000 works of notable historical-cultural value which have been on exhibit in various European capitals. A computerized cataloguing system of all the works is underway in order to allow on-line consultation in Polish and English.

After the prayer and blessing, John Paul II spoke to those gathered, pointing out that "a library is an institution which by its very existence bears witness to the development of culture. It comprises the treasury of written works, in which we see displayed human creativity, human intelligence, knowledge of the world and of human beings, and also the capacity for self-control, personal sacrifice, solidarity and work for the consolidation of the common good."

"A library, therefore, is a special temple of the creativity of the human spirit which reflects the Divine Breath which attended the work of the creation of the world and of man. ... If, therefore, we find ourselves today in this place which gathers together the fruits of man's creative work, it is right that we look to God filled with thanksgiving."

"It is my hope," the Pope said in conclusion, "that this library will become the place where those who profit from its rich resources recognize and satisfy the noble passion of the quest for truth."

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