POPE EXPRESSES SADNESS AT VIOLENCE IN SPAIN

VATICAN CITY, JUL 30, 2000 (VIS) - After praying the angelus with the faithful who joined him in Castelgandolfo, Pope John Paul greeted the pilgrims in various languages, with special words for groups of young people, members of religious congregations and representatives of the Cursillo Movement.

To the Spanish-speaking pilgrims, he said: "In the face of the wave of terrorism which is striking Spain these days and which yesterday claimed a new victim, I wish to express my profound sadness, as well as my solidarity and closeness to the families of the victims. I again renew my most energetic condemnation of these acts against the right to liberty and life, and reaffirm that no idea or social or political concept can be imposed by violence. I pray the Lord that the dear Spanish people might always enjoy peaceful coexistence and social harmony."

Then, in Italian, John Paul II invited "everyone to spiritually join the prayer vigil for the feast of the Transfiguration which, in answer to the appeal from Patriarch Bartolomew I of Constantinople, will be held on Saturday evening, August 5, in the patriarchal Lateran Basilica, with the aim of giving glory to God Who, in Christ, fully revealed Himself when he affirmed: 'This is my beloved Son, Listen to Him'."

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