POPE PRAYS FOR VICTIMS OF INDONESIAN FERRYBOAT SINKING

VATICAN CITY, JUL 2, 2000 (VIS) - After praying the noon angelus today, Pope John Paul had greetings for numerous groups present in St. Peter's Square. Among those he saluted were bicyclists, gymnasts, members of the St. Louis Oratory from Como, Italy, a musical group, horseback riders, an estimated several thousand motorcyclists and young people from Italian dioceses who had travelled on a pilgrimage to Mount Adamello in preparation for next month's World Youth Day.

He then mentioned that he had "just learned in this very moment the news that, unfortunately, the ferryboat which disappeared three days ago in the Indonesia archipelago of the Moluccas has sunk, with an estimated 500 passengers aboard. I express great sorrow for the victims and I pray the Lord to grant them eternal reward and I invoke upon everyone with all my strength peace and security for those islands tormented by violence."

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