PAPAL GRATITUDE TO THOSE WHO AIDED CHERNOBYL VICTIMS

VATICAN CITY, APR 26, 2001 (VIS) - This morning at 11 in the Paul VI Hall, 1,500 members of movements, associations, families and parishes who have hosted children who were victims of the April 26, 1986 explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in Ukraine were welcomed by Pope John Paul. Many of these Ukrainian children were also present, as was Ukraine's President Leonid Kuchma, who addressed a message of thanks to all those who helped the children who suffered from radiation exposure due to the explosion.

In his talk, the Holy Father said: "As my trip to Ukraine nears, the desire within me grows to embrace the Ukrainian people, very dear to me, and to kiss that soil which has been so tried by the nuclear disaster, whose terrible effects are still felt today."

He expressed "appreciation to civil administrations, religious communities, dioceses and to all who, over the years, have helped those who, without fault, paid and continue to pay the price of a calamity of such vast proportions. I speak to you especially, dear children of Chernobyl! You represent thousands of your little friends who have found hospitality in Italy in order to be taken care of and to overcome a difficult phase of their existence."

Thanking everyone for "the chain of solidarity" shown for the victims of Chernobyl, the Pope said: "We must prepare for the children a future of peace, without fear and similar threats. Here is a commitment for everyone. For this to happen, there must be a choral technical, scientific and human effort to place all energy at the service of peace, in respect for man's needs and those of nature."

AC;CHERNOBYL;...;