EFFECTIVELY WITNESS THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION

VATICAN CITY, SEP 23, 1999 (VIS) - John Paul II sent a letter to Bishop Vasco Giuseppe Bertelli of Volterra, Italy, for the commemorative celebrations of the Pope's pastoral visit to that diocese, ten years ago.

"I trust that attempting to return with mind and heart to that happy occasion, will lead the diocese to revitalize the special ties of ecclesial communion it has had with Rome since the earliest days of Christianity. That is, from the time when Providence called St. Linus, according to ancient tradition a native of Volterra, to succeed the apostle Peter in guiding the Church of Rome."

The Holy Father continues in his letter, which is dated today, feast of St. Linus, Pope and martyr: "May this diocesan community truly experience, with the active contribution of all its members, an ever more intense life of communion - a family life -so that, in these closing days of the century, it may effectively witness the message of salvation and cross the threshold of the third millennium internally renewed and ready to face the challenges of the new evangelization.

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