PRESS OFFICE STATEMENT ON BASILICA INCIDENT

VATICAN CITY, FEB 25, 2000 (VIS) - Following is a declaration made yesterday afternoon by Holy See Press Office Vice Director Fr. Ciro Benedettini regarding the incident that occurred yesterday on the dome of St. Peter's Basilica:

"This morning at around 11 a.m., three youths lowered themselves from the lantern of the dome of St. Peter's onto two lunettes and unfurled banners displaying environmentalist slogans.

"The protest came to an end at 4 p.m. when the three demonstrators, with the assistance of firemen, returned to the lantern on the cupola.

"The three were taken to the offices of the Vatican security forces and identified.

"They turned out to belong to an environmentalist group, 'Solidarios con Itoiz.' Two held Spanish passports and the other a German passport. Their aim was to protest against the construction of a dam in northern Spain."

OP;ST PETER DOME;...;BENEDETTINI;VIS;20000225;Word: 150;