SPECIAL THANKS TO JUBILEE VOLUNTEERS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 7, 2001 (VIS) - At midday, the Pope appeared at the window of his private study in order to pray the angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square. Among them were thousands of Jubilee volunteers who earlier in the day had participated in Mass in the Vatican Basilica, presided by Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, president of the Central Committee of the Great Jubilee.

John Paul II gave special thanks to the volunteers who have helped in welcoming pilgrims during the Jubilee, both in Rome and Jerusalem as well as in numerous shrines and basilicas. "Conserve in your hearts those moments of the Jubilee in which you shared, and transfer to your everyday lives that 'volunteer' status that enables you to recognize in everyone you meet a brother to be helped and served."

"The year 2001," added the Pope, "has been proclaimed 'International Year of Volunteers' by the United Nations. In you, I wish to greet and encourage all volunteers throughout the world, men and women, who freely offer part of their time through many forms of fraternal solidarity for human promotion and education, especially by standing close to the poorest and to those undergoing material and spiritual suffering."

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