POPE ANNOUNCES RE-OPENING OF PONTIFICAL MARONITE COLLEGE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 10, 2000 (VIS) - Pope John Paul this morning received 500 Maronite faithful from Lebanon, other Middle East countries and the diaspora, who are in Rome to celebrate the Jubilee Year 2000. "I have the pleasure," he said, "of announcing that, after being closed for many years, ... the Pontifical Maronite College in Rome yesterday officially re-opened its doors." The college dates back to the 16th century and Pope Gregory XIII.

"I hope," the Pope added, "that the young Maronites who will henceforth live in this historical college will contribute efficaciously ... to Maronite ecclesial life, in fidelity to the spirit of the universal Church."

John Paul II highlighted the Maronites' "unfailing and multi-century fidelity to the Roman Apostolic See" and "the strong ties which exist between the See of Rome and that of Antioch." He observed that their visit to Rome was also to celebrate the liturgical memory on February 9, according to their calendar, of St Maro (Maron), "the cornerstone of your Church."

"You full communion with the Church of Rome," underscored the Pope, is indeed a tangible show of the awareness that you have of unity: 'Unity is the primordial mark of the Church and is required by its profound nature'. This ecclesial unity ... will help you in turn to commit yourselves ever more to evangelization of the world."

The Holy Father recalled with affection his 1997 trip to Lebanon to present the Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation "A New Hope for Lebanon." This document was, he said, "'my cry of resurrection and peace', through which I 'presented again the biblical land of cedars to the conscience of the world."

He urged "the beloved land of Lebanon" to "be a place where Christians can live in peace and fraternity with followers of other beliefs, and where they will be capable of promoting such coexistence. ... I also want to tell you today ... 'the Pope is always close to you'. I am by your side as a father and brother in this period when intolerance sometimes leads to the revival of spirits of hatred which we would like to see disappear forever."

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