ANGELUS REFLECTIONS ON ST. THOMAS MORE

VATICAN CITY, NOV 5, 2000 (VIS) - At the end of the Mass for the Jubilee of Government Leaders and Politicians, and before praying the angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Pope spoke of St. Thomas More, the new Patron of Statesmen, of Italy's Day for Cancer Research and of his forthcoming visit with Karekin II, Catholicos of all the Armenians.

"The most fitting person for Patron of Statesmen," said John Paul II, "Sir Thomas More fully lived the Christian identity in the lay state, as a husband, exemplary father and enlightened statesman. A man of unyielding integrity, in order to remain faithful to God and to his own conscience, gave up everything: honors, affection, his very life; but he thus acquired the most precious good, the Kingdom of Heaven, from where he watches over all those who dedicate themselves generously to the service of the human family in civil and political institutions."

The Holy Father then recalled that Italy today is celebrating the Day of Cancer Research. He encouraged all those suffering with cancer and expressed "the praise and solidarity of the Church, who always seeks to serve Christ in the sick and at the side of health care workers."

Following multi-language greetings to the pilgrims in St. Peter's Square, the Pope invited everyone "to pray for the meeting I will having in coming days with the Catholicos of all Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II. During a solemn Eucharistic celebration in St. Peter's on November 10, I will have the joy of giving him a relic of St. Gregory the Enlightened, Patron of Armenia."

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