ROMAN PARISH VISIT: IN THE CHURCH NO ONE IS A FOREIGNER

VATICAN CITY, MAR 4, 2001 (VIS) - Today, the first Sunday of Lent, the Holy Father presided over the Eucharistic celebration in the Roman parish of St. Andrew the Apostle, which celebrates the 60th anniversary of its foundation this year.

At the beginning of his homily, the Pope commented on today's Gospel, which relates Jesus' battle against the temptations in the desert: "Jesus," the Pontiff recalled, "is now put to the test in His faithfulness to God. Contrarily, however, to Adam and Eve in the terrestrial paradise, and differently from the people of Israel in the desert, He resists temptation and triumphs over evil."

After pointing out that in the parish community "the number of people coming from Eastern European countries and the so-called 'Third World' has increased," the Holy Father stated: "In the Church no one is a foreigner: for this reason it is important to create opportunities for dialogue and to encourage mutual understanding. It is above all necessary that everyone feels involved in a pastoral care attentive to the real needs of the people.

"Know, then, how to be a community open to all, persevering in listening to the word of God, in the celebration of the sacraments of salvation and sharing the many initiatives of pastoral care and solidarity." The Holy Father, furthermore, went on to say: "Every Christian must feel involved in the vast work of evangelization. If you will know how to be missionaries in your area, the Lord will not let you lack vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life. In a special way, generous missionary vocations 'ad gentes' will arise among you, as is your desire."

The Pope, at the end of his homily, addressed the families and urged them to allow the Spirit "to make you places of peace, of listening and of dialogue, of sharing and of respect for everyone. Within families faithful to the Gospel, youth can draw the courage and faith to look to the future with a sense of mature co-responsibility."

HML;...;...;ST. ANDREW PARISH;VIS;20010305;Word: 350;