TO SLOVAKS: BE FAITHFUL TO CHRIST AND HIS GOSPEL

VATICAN CITY, FEB 15, 2000 (VIS) - This morning in the Paul VI Hall, the Pope received 3,000 pilgrims from Slovakia, among them various representatives and delegates of the Evangelical Church and other Christian confessions. Rudolf Schuster, president of the Slovak Republic, was also present, as was Cardinal Jan Chryzostom Korec, S.J., bishop of Nitra.

After referring to the "long years of harsh communist oppression" suffered by the Slovak people, the Holy Father stated that "even now, trials and difficulties are not lacking, but a continual return to the evangelical roots is a sure way to human and religious renewal. Be faithful to Christ! Be faithful to His Gospel of salvation which is capable of renewing man and society! For faith to be fully lived, coherent witness is required within the different surroundings in which human, personal and community life takes place."

John Paul II indicated that "it is in the Eucharist that Christ nourishes and strengthens believers. ... Eating the 'bread broken', the faithful learn to consider others as themselves, as brothers to be respected and accepted."

He concluded: "Only Christians united 'that they may all be one' can offer a fully credible witness before the world. Unity is, even today, the privileged path of evangelization."

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