POPE INAUGURATES METROPOLITAN SEMINARY IN SALERNO

VATICAN CITY, SEP 4, 1999 (VIS) - At 9:30 this morning, the Pope travelled by helicopter from Castegandolfo to Pontecagnano, Salerno, Italy, in order to inaugurate the new metropolitan seminary that bears his name, and the "Saint Matthew" priests' residence. This is his 136th pastoral trip within Italy and the briefest of his pontificate.

The seminary has been constructed by the community of Salerno with the aid of the Italian Episcopal Conference and the support of the bishops of the region.

In his address to those present the Pope indicated that, during his journey to Salerno, he had flown over the area devastated by last year's flood. He said: "I prayed for the dead, but I especially requested divine support for the people and families most severely hit. May they find in Christian hope, and also with the support of the national community, the strength to construct a peaceful future, especially for the younger generations."

Addressing the seminarians, he said: "I trust you will be submissive to the voice of the Lord, that you will give yourselves generously to Him. May you grow here in your commitment to prayer and study, living the renouncements and daily difficulties as acts of love towards those to whom the Lord will send you."

"Dear educators, to you is entrusted the task of causing future priests to relive the experience of the Cenacle, which was in a certain sense the first seminary. ... Seek inspiration from this eloquent icon in training the evangelizers for the third millennium. ... Educate them in fraternal communion. Ensure they have a solid theological and cultural base. Especially ensure that they are 'men of God'".

The Pope then referred to the priests' residence, "destined to aid priests to live in fraternity. ... I trust that, for their respective guests, the closeness of the two institutions constitutes a valuable occasion for fraternal encounters, for communion in charity, for reciprocal recall in prayer and for encouragement in the service of the Lord".

Finally, the Pope addressed the young people present: "Accept the message of Christ and respond to His love. ... The success of your life depends on your response to His call. Do not allow yourselves to be taken in by illusory and transitory mirages. Christ calls you to sanctity, even in the ordinary conditions of everyday life. ... Do not be afraid to courageously accept His proposal".

After his speech, the Pope visited the Most Holy Sacrament in the church of the new metropolitan seminary "Giovanni Paolo II," and blessed and inaugurated the seminary.

At 12; 30 p.m., John Paul II returned by helicopter to Castelgandolfo.

PV-ITALY;INAUGURATION SEMINARY;.SALERNO..;

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