VATICAN CITY, DEC 29, 1999 (VIS) - The last general audience of 1999 was held today. It took place first in the Vatican Basilica and then in the Paul VI Hall, due to the large numbers of pilgrims who have come to Rome for the Great Jubilee.
To the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Basilica, the Pope recalled that "the Jubilee is a time of rejoicing that should be lived in prayer and in thanksgiving to the Lord for the gift of the Incarnation. It is a time in which we, with our lives, are called to more intensely and profoundly glorify the Trinity."
The Pope then moved to the Paul VI Hall, where he addressed another numerous group of faithful. John Paul II stated that "in the western world, Christmas is considered as a family celebration. ... (The family is) a communion of love between individuals, founded on truth, on charity, on the unbreakable faithfulness of husband and wife, on the welcoming of life."
"We pray," continued the Pope, "that the Great Jubilee, which has just begun, may truly be a time of grace and redemption for all the families of the world. May the light of the Word Incarnate help them to better understand and carry out their original vocation, the project that the God of life has reserved for them, in order that they become the living image of His love."
The Holy Father indicated that the Jubilee will also be a "suitable occasion to reinforce the bonds of affection in each family and to reconstruct divided family units. May all Christian families become ever more aware of their exalted mission in the Church and in the world! Today, there is a great need for the individual protection of each family, especially the poorest and most problematic. Budding life must be promoted and welcomed, for each child who comes into the world is a gift and a hope for all."
Finally, the Pope expressed his wish that, for all families, the Great Jubilee be "a time to courageously open their doors to Christ, man's only Redeemer."
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