JOHN PAUL II GREETS PILGRIMS IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE

VATICAN CITY, NOV 10, 1999 (VIS) - At 11 this morning, speaking from his study window, Pope John Paul greeted and briefly addressed the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square. The weekly general audience had not been put on the Pope's calendar for this Wednesday given the expected late hour of his arrival from Georgia after a long flight and three time zone changes.

"I greet you with affection," he said. "I returned last night from my apostolic pilgrimage in India and Georgia. In New Delhi I met many Asian bishops and faithful; in Tbilisi I visited the Catholic community and its apostolic administrator. With everyone I prayed, sharing their respective hopes and desires."

Saying that he would talk of "this interesting trip at next week's general audience," the Holy Father asked the faithful to join him in "asking God to render fruitful the seeds sown during this apostolic trip."

Thanking the authorities of both countries he visited, the Pope expressed "particular thanks to Patriarch-Catholicos Ilia II for the cordiality which he showed me."

AG;TRIP INDIA GEORGIA;...;...;VIS;19991110;Word: 180;