JOHN PAUL II WELCOMES 20,000 PILGRIMS IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 6, 2000 (VIS) - More than 20,000 faithful from numerous countries were greeted this morning in St. Peter's Square by the Holy Father who had special words for each group of pilgrims.

Speaking Spanish, he first addressed the priests, religious and lay faithful from Uruguay who had celebrated Mass this morning in St. Peter's, after having gone through the Holy Door. He urged them "to faithfully pursue the mission that the Lord has given you and to give joyous witness to Christ in today's society. Your ecclesial path will be strengthened with the celebration next October of your National Eucharistic Congress. I hope and wish that this will be a special moment of grace."

John Paul II then addressed the numerous Italian faithful who had come to Rome on their Jubilee pilgrimage, including a group from the diocese of Arezzo-Cortona-San Sepolcro. He exhorted in particular the priests and religious "to pursue with generosity your commitment according to that spirit of unity and missionary calling which marks the work of all those whom God has called to work in His vineyard."

The Holy Father asked pilgrims from the diocese of Fiesole "to pursue with courage the path of a convinced Christian witness in the places where Providence has placed you. I know that in your last diocesan synod, you decided to mark your ecclesial path, especially regarding family ministry, with the Eucharist. ... Persons, families, parishes and associations, everyone is strengthened by approaching the Eucharist."

Speaking French, the Pope then welcomed the faithful from Switzerland who are in Rome for today's swearing-in ceremony of 35 new Swiss Guards, "especially the Instrumental Union, the contingent of Friboug Grenadiers and the Fanfare of St. Michael's College. "Your musical and instrumental groups allow you to express through music your praise of the Creator."

"I now address a cordial greeting," he continued, "to the participants in the 20th edition of the 'Certamen Ciceronianum' and I hope with all my heart that the study of the Latin language and literature will be a valid instrument for preserving and underscoring the values linked to the culture of ancient Rome, mother of civilizations and teacher of law."

The Holy Father concluded by welcoming Italian pilgrims from Arosio, Fabriago, Bologna, Pozzallo, Castelvetrano and Pesaro.

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