AUDIENCE WITH VARIOUS GROUPS OF PILGRIMS AT CASTELGANDOLFO

VATICAN CITY, AUG 5, 2000 (VIS) - This morning in the apostolic palace of Castelgandolfo, the Pope greeted various groups of pilgrims and recalled that today marks the celebration of the dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major, "the first Christian temple in the West to be dedicated to the Mother of God."

"To her," he said, "I entrust your every intention. Furthermore, I especially wish to entrust to her the solemn prayer vigil that will take place this evening in the Basilica of St. John Lateran. This represents an important prayer meeting which is taking place following the suggestion of and in communion with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and the Orthodox Church, on the eve of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. May this providential initiative favor ecumenical dialogue and advance us along the common path towards the full unity of all Christians."

John Paul II then addressed a group of sick people from Malta and their helpers, on their return journey from a pilgrimage to Lourdes: "I hope most sincerely that difficulties and trials will not weaken your Christian witness, but help instead to make it more powerful. May the Lord sustain your dear ones, and the doctors, nurses and volunteers who are near to you."

The Holy Father concluded: "I also greet young people from the parish of St. Anthony of Padua, in Blerick in the diocese of Roermond, Netherlands, and I trust that you, dear young people, will daily read and meditate upon the Gospel, following the model of St. Anthony of Padua, that you may ever more become messengers of his love."

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