150,000 CHILDREN FROM 30 COUNTRIES CELEBRATE THEIR JUBILEE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 2, 2000 (VIS) - This morning in St. Peter's Square, 150,000 children and adolescents from 30 countries took part in the Children's Jubilee which was convened in Rome by the Pope.

After welcoming the thousands of pilgrims and listening to the messages addressed to him by children representing different countries, the Pope spoke to the young people, expressing thanks for the enthusiasm and joyous atmosphere with which they filled St. Peter's Square.

At the start of his speech, the Pope told the children that "God is the good Father, always ready to forgive and to offer His children the chance to live and hope once more. Once again He opens His heart to us, so that all men and women, repenting their sins, ... may return to the path that leads to Him."

Going on in French, the Holy Father said that "life acquires its full value when it becomes a gift for others. ... Only with Christ can great things be achieved, only with Him is it possible to be happy and to make others happy."

The Pope made mention, in English, of "all those of your own age who are suffering hunger or violence, and those who are victims of hideous forms of exploitation. How could we forget the many children who are denied even the right to be born?

"When people want to build a world ignoring God and His law, they are in fact giving rise to a situation of more and more suffering and injustice. With the Jubilee the Lord invites us to correct these wrongs. ... Jesus also needs you for this task. He is entrusting his plans to you and he is asking you: Do you wish to be my friend? Do you wish to help me make the world more beautiful and welcoming? Do you wish to be witnesses to my love in the Church and in the world?"

The Pope also spoke in Spanish to the children gathered in St. Peter's Square, recalling the Gospel passage about the Child Jesus lost in the Temple and encouraging all to "return home, transformed by the love of Jesus who has given you His friendship.

Finally, in Polish, the Pope told the children that they were the hope of humanity.

At the close of the event, the Pope awarded the John XXIII International Peace Prize to the non-governmental organization 'ATD - Aide a toute detresse- Quart Monde.' This body was founded in Paris, France, in 1957 by Fr. Wresinski and today has a presence in many parts of the world, where it works in support of needy children.

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