POPE WELCOMES PROMOTERS OF JOHN PAUL II CULTURAL CENTER

VATICAN CITY, SEP 22, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father this morning greeted Cardinal Adam Maida of Detroit and a group of promoters of the John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, recalling in his talk to them that the groundbreaking ceremony took place three years ago and that the center is scheduled to open next year.

"The importance of the Center," the Pope remarked, "lies in the fact that it is an instrument of evangelization. Its purpose is not to honor a particular person but to contribute, using the means of modern technology, to making the Church and her message better known and understood. The celebration of the Jubilee Year has shown that people everywhere are not only eager to profess the truths of faith but also eager to build and strengthen the sense of Catholic community through religious and cultural activities."

Pope John Paul concluded by encouraging their "efforts to ensure that the Center provides opportunities for the study of important themes affecting Christian life in the present cultural climate of your country."

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