CHRISTIANS MUST BE WITNESSES AND MESSENGERS OF CHRIST

VATICAN CITY, JUN 3, 2000 (VIS) - In the Clementine Hall at midday today, John Paul II received a group of pilgrims from various parts of Italy who have come to Rome to celebrate the Jubilee.

The Pope addressed participants of the 12th "in tandem" cycle race, organized by the Italian Union for the Blind. He highlighted that this association had wished to celebrate its 80th anniversary with this sporting event which is "inspired by the great jubilee values of fraternity, solidarity and human promotion."

Speaking of the Solemnity of the Ascension, the Holy Father affirmed that from the moment the Lord ascended to heaven "the time began of our witness as believers, animated by the strength of the Holy Spirit. ... We Christians of the third millennium must also be witnesses and messangers of Christ, called to (show) generous missionary enthusiasm and to construct a new humanity, enlivened by the law of Love."

Just as she accompanied the Apostles while they waited, "the Virgin accompanies us too, especially in this Jubilee Year, to keep vigil and pray in the hope of a new Pentecost. Today, the first Saturday of June, we entrust our intentions of evangelical commitment to her. From her we invoke the help necessary to bring to fruition the mission that has been entrusted to each of us."

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