HOLY FATHER, GREEK-MELKITE PATRIARCH CONCELEBRATE MASS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 12, 2001 (VIS) - Today Pope John Paul and His Beatitude Gregory III, patriarch of Greek-Melkite Catholics, concelebrated Mass, accompanied by bishops and priests of the patriarchate.

He welcomed Gregory III, "new patriarch of the Greek-Melkite Church who, in communion with the Bishop of Rome, brings the spiritual riches of the people whom the Lord has entrusted to you, thus showing the catholicity of the Church."

"My thoughts go to the communities of your patriarchate," the Holy Father said, "asking the Lord to accompany them in their spiritual life and in the witness of faith and hope that they have to give to the entire population. ... May they remain intimately linked to Christ to obtain from Him the strength of faith, the courage of hope and audacity in announcing the Gospel!"

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