TOMORROW THE POPE WILL OFFER LUNCH TO 200 POOR PEOPLE

VATICAN CITY, JUN 14, 2000 (VIS) - Below is the full text of a communique from the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee 2000 regarding an initiative by the Pope, who tomorrow will offer luncheon in the Vatican to 200 poor people:

"Two hundred guests, invited to the table of the 'Pope's charity,' will share in a luncheon offered by the Holy Father to the poor. The event will take place on Thursday June 15 in the atrium of the Paul VI Hall. The guests will be men and women of all ages - Christians but also from other religions, among them a number of Muslims - Italians and foreigners from five continents, chosen by the Community of St. Egidio, by Rome Caritas and by the 'Dona di Maria' House. Each person was sent a personalized invitation.

"With this initiative, the Pope once again brings charity to the fore as a 'sign' of the Great Jubilee and reaffirms 'the Church's preferential option for the poor and the marginalized' as indicated in fundamental Jubilee documents, the Apostolic Letter 'Tertio millennio adveniente' and the Bull of Indiction 'Incarnationis mysterium.' The choice of the day is also symbolic, the Thursday of the Lord's Supper, between Pentecost and the International Eucharistic Congress. Tables for 13 people will be prepared where ten poor people will sit with a cardinal or a bishop and two volunteers to help them. In order to represent the priestly ministry as service, lunch will be served by seminarians from the Seminary of Rome, while a group of Legionaries of Christ will provide accompaniment with music and songs.

"The poor people will live a true Jubilee day. On the morning of June 15, they will cross the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica and pause in prayer over the tomb of the Prince of the Apostles, they will then proceed to the Paul VI Hall. The Holy Father will join them at lunch time. At the conclusion, there will be an exchange of gifts between the guests and the Pope. As a memento, the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee 2000 will give the guests, among other things, a reproduction of the Jubilee logo. About 20 high-ranking prelates will participate in the luncheon.
"The menu is typical of an average Italian family: ravioli with ricotta cheese, roast veal and roast potatoes, small mozzarella cheeses from Aversa with fresh salad, a dessert and fruit salad with ice cream as well as wine, non-alcoholic drinks, sparkling wine and coffee."

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