POPE VISITS NATIVITY SCENE OF ROME'S STREET CLEANERS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 7, 2001 (VIS) - This evening, as is traditional at this time of year, John Paul II visited the nativity scene constructed by Rome's street cleaners. The Pope was welcomed by the mayor of Rome as well as by members of the organization that tends to cleaning the streets of the capital and members of their families.

The Holy Father recalled that this Jubilee year had given the street cleaners more work than usual and he thanked them for their efforts. "Now," he said, "we must return to the normal rhythm of life, yet still recalling the message that comes to us from the Great Jubilee. It is the same message that is transmitted to us by Christmas and by the nativity scene which is the most eloquent symbol of Christmas. We must set out anew from Christ in order to begin the new millennium with faith as witnesses of the love of God Who, being born among us, became one of us."

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