ROME IS A POINT OF REFERENCE FOR COMMUNION AND UNITY

VATICAN CITY, MAY 28, 2000 (VIS) - This morning in St. Peter's Square, the Pope presided at a concelebration of the Eucharist for the occasion of the Jubilee of the diocese of Rome. Taking part in the event were thousands of priests, religious and lay people from parishes, associations, movements and ecclesial groups in the city.

Before the start of Mass, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, made a brief address in which he expressed gratitude to God for the "the gift He gave us in having Your Holiness as our Bishop and pastor." As a sign of admiration and felicitation for his 80th birthday, he told the Pope: "Your diocese of Rome is dedicating the new parish that is being inaugurated today in a new neighborhood to St. Charles Borromeo, your celestial patron."

In his homily, the Holy Father recalled that during the Jubilee, many pilgrims have come to Rome "to profess Peter's same faith in Christ, Son of the Living God. This demonstrates once again the special vocation that divine Providence has reserved for Rome: that of being a reference point for the communion and unity of the whole Church and for the spiritual recuperation of all humanity."

The Pope gave thanks for the "great pastoral vitality and ardent evangelizing drive" of the Church of Rome in the last few years. "It is important that, from now on, there be a general effort to make the 'spirit of the Citizens' Mission' penetrate ever more deeply into the normal and everyday pastoral care of parishes and ecclesial bodies. This must be considered by everyone as a 'permanent commitment' and must involve all God's people, starting with those missionaries,' priests, religious and laity who have directly experienced the beauty and joy of evangelization.

"Precisely in view of this essential renewal within families and urban environments, it is more than ever necessary that in the coming pastoral year the fruits of the road travelled thus far be attentively examined."

John Paul II exhorted the Church in Rome to be aware of "how special your mission is, especially as regards the Jubilee! Do not be discouraged by the difficulties that you meet on your daily journey. You are supported by the witness of the Apostles, Peter and Paul who consecrated your birth with their blood, and encouraged by the example of saints and martyrs."

At the end of Mass, 40 children from various Roman primary schools danced before the Pope. After their performance, they approached the Holy Father who embraced and kissed them.

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