GENERAL AUDIENCE: GREETINGS TO PILGRIMS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 23, 2000 (VIS) - The pilgrims who gathered in St. Peter's Square this morning for the general audience did not hear the usual catechesis but rather were greeted in numerous languages by the Holy Father. This weekly event was abbreviated due to the Pope's participation at 10:15 in the Paul VI Hall in what he termed last week "a spiritual pilgrimage to Ur of the Chaldeans" to commemorate Abraham.

He had special words for "the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, meeting in Rome these days. I thank you for the dedication with which you put your knowledge and experience at the service of the Holy See in your important field of investigation." Continuing in English, he welcomed ecumenical groups from Great Britain and Sweden and pilgrims from Hong Kong, Taiwan, the United States and Ireland. "As we reflect on the example of Abraham during this Jubilee Year, let us seek to grow in faith and acceptance of God's saving initiative in our lives."

Greeting the participants in the annual meeting of the Bishop Friends of the Focolare Movement at the Mariapoli Center in Castelgandolfo, the Pope said in Italian: "Faithful to the spirituality of unity and through a constant exchange of experiences, pursue your mission as builders of communion within episcopal conferences, at the center of the priesthood and in diocesan communities."

"I hope that the Great Jubilee," he stated in French, "will be for everyone an experience of faith, with a conversion of heart for a change of life, in view of a renewed evangelical witness. May you rediscover friendship with God and His grace, for fraternal relations with everyone."

At the end of his greetings Pope John Paul told those present that he would be going to the Paul VI Hall to "preside at a liturgical celebration in memory of the patriarch Abraham, our father in the faith." He added that they could follow the commemorative ceremony on the large screens set up in St. Peter's Square, linked via television with the Paul VI Hall.

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