BE PASSIONATE BELIEVERS IN CHRIST, JOHN PAUL II TELLS FAITHFUL

VATICAN CITY, OCT 17, 1999 (VIS) - This morning John Paul II visited the Roman parish of St. Francis of Assisi at Monte Mario and, in his homily, he called upon the faithful to be "passionate believers in Christ, capable of giving testimony to faith with their lives."

The Pope expressed his delight at the activities organized by the young people of the parish, and at the fact that adults participate in the pastoral ministry to youth. He said: "For young people, having by their side mature adults who know how to propose to them exalted goals and who are capable of listening to them and of giving them satisfactory answers to the basic existential questions, is a guarantee for their future and for enriching the Church and society."

After referring to World Youth Day, to be held in Rome in 2000, the Holy Father affirmed that "it is necessary to make preparations in order to offer a warm welcome to the young people who will come to Rome for that occasion. We entrust to the Lord, through the intercession of Mary, the success of this great event and the spiritual fruits which it will not fail to produce."

The Pope expressed his hope that the parishioners may soon have a church larger than the present one, and he encouraged them to "draw, from the smallness of the building, the incentive to be a living community, committed to taking the Gospel everywhere. Be a missionary parish!"

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