REGINA COELI: IN JESUS THE HOPE OF HUMANITY IS RENEWED

VATICAN CITY, APR 16, 2001 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father left the Vatican for his residence at Castelgandolfo, where at noon, from the balcony of the inner courtyard of the Pontifical Palace, he led the faithful present in the recitation of the Regina Coeli, the prayer which substitutes the Angelus during the Easter season.

Before this prayer, the Pope indicated his desire to spend, as he traditionally does, some days at Castelgandolfo. He had hoped to do so last Christmas, he said, but "it was not possible for me, due to the numerous commitments of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, which called a great many pilgrims to Rome."

The Holy Father dedicated a particular greeting to the "people who, on the contrary, cannot fully enjoy the joy of these Easter celebrations, because they are in difficulty, or are experiencing moments of suffering and solitude." He assured everyone of remembrance in his prayers.

"On this Easter Monday feast day, called Angel Monday," the Pope continued, "the liturgy still strongly notes the echo of the heavenly messenger's words to the women who ran to the tomb; 'Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead'. We hear this invitation as also directed to us, to 'make haste' and to 'go' to announce the Gospel to the men of our time. ... May Mary ... help us in this demanding mission which belongs to every baptized person. May she especially support us in faithfully giving witness that Christ is truly risen, and in Him the hope of humanity is renewed."

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