POPE CALLS FOR TESTIMONY TO CHRIST'S LOVE

VATICAN CITY, APR 8, 2000 (VIS) - At midday today in St. Peter's Square, John Paul II received a large group of pilgrims from the Italian dioceses of Aversa, Gorizia, Cesena, Ischia and Molfetta, as well as members of the Capitolino Camper Club and of the Cooperative Credit Bank of Cascia and Regello which is based at Florence, Italy.

The Pope encouraged the faithful from Aversa to remain faithful to the Gospel and added, "I know of your intense pastoral activity in all areas of evangelization. I am also aware of your praiseworthy efforts to be close to the weakest and most forgotten elements of society, especially unemployed youth and poorer families. Be witnesses of solidarity."

"Give special attention to the young. May your common commitment be to 'a Church for the young and with the young'. This is a wise pastoral strategy that looks to the future."

The Pope then greeted pilgrims from the dioceses of Gorizia, Cesena and Ischia to whom he said: "May your constant concern be to give witness to your love for Christ and to announce His Gospel through words and example. In this way, you will always be ready to impart the hope that is within you."

John Paul then turned to the superiors and seminarians from the regional Pontifical Seminary of Molfetta; faithful from parishes of the diaconate of Val d'Elsa in the diocese of Siena and members of the fraternity of the Holy Trinity in Naples. He said he hoped that, on passing through the Jubilee Holy Door, they may obtain from Christ "the strength necessary to be His faithful disciples."

Finally, John Paul II had words for members of the Capitolino Camper Club and of the Cooperative Credit Bank of Cascia and Regello: "May you always be filled with sentiments inspired by charity, which is the fullness of Christian law. Moved by solidarity, put into act effective initiatives for alleviating the many forms of poverty present in today's society."

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