POPE LAUDS INSTITUTE'S FOCUS ON YOUTH AND THE POOR

VATICAN CITY, JUN 9, 2000 (VIS) - The Brothers of the Christian Schools were welcomed today by the Holy Father who observed that they are celebrating not only their 43rd General Chapter but the centenary of the canonization of their founder, St. Jean-Baptiste LaSalle, and the 50th anniversary of his proclamation by Pius XII as special patron of educators of children and young people.

"These different events," stated the Pope, "are an especially favorable occasion for you to give a new thrust to your different educational and evangelizing missions, according to the charism of your founder and notwithstanding the decrease in your numbers."

John Paul II highlighted their response "to the new appeals of children and young people, especially the poorest who, throughout the world, need to receive a human, moral, catechetical and academic formation, so as to become men and women who will assume their part of responsibility in the Christian community and society of tomorrow."

"Your recent chapters," he pointed out, "have allowed you to reflect on participation by other religious congregations and by the laity who wish to be associated with your mission and to live, in their way, the LaSalle charism." He called the presence of the laity "an appreciable sign of the ever more important place they are called to take in the life of the Church."

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