TO THE YOUTH OF CATHOLIC ACTION: I COUNT ON YOU HELP

VATICAN CITY, DEC 21, 2000 (VIS) - At midday today in the Consistory Hall, John Paul II received a group of boys and girls from Italian Catholic Action who come every year to exchange Christmas greetings with the Pope.

"Catholic Action," said the Holy Father, "has surely helped you in your development as disciples of Christ. ... Together with your teachers and assistants, your aim is to become even more missionary, more capable of bringing to others the joy of having encountered Christ. I am pleased at this missionary effort and I repeat that I very much count on your collaboration in spreading the Gospel in the family, in school, in sport and everywhere."

The Holy Father assured the young people that he prayed "that, like Jesus, you may grow in wisdom and grace, before God and man. This will happen if you constantly love the Virgin Mary and let yourselves be guided by her."

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