HOLY FATHER VISITS ATHENS' ST. DIONYSIUS CATHEDRAL

VATICAN CITY, MAY 4, 2001 (VIS) - This afternoon, following lunch at the nunciature and a meeting with the bishops of Greece and the cardinals and bishops of his entourage, Pope John Paul paid a visit to Athens' Cathedral of St. Dionysius the Areopagite, also known as St. Denis. This Church was inaugurated in 1865 and raised to the rank of basilica in 1877 by Pope Pius IX.

The Holy Father made brief remarks in French to the bishops, priests, religious and lay people present for his visit. He recalled that the saint for whom the cathedral was named was "one of the first Greeks who, upon hearing St. Paul preach on the resurrection, was converted. May you all welcome this mystery of salvation, in order to live it and be its witnesses to your brothers, in a spirit of reciprocal welcoming, solidarity and Christian charity!"

"Don't be afraid," added the Pope, "to transmit the Good News to young people to allow them to build their personal lives and to be engaged in the Church and in the world ... Be people who awaken vocations!"

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