EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION WITH PRIESTS OF AOSTA

VATICAN CITY, JUL 20, 2001 (VIS) - This morning, on the last day of his vacation in Valle d'Aosta, John Paul II celebrated Mass with the priests of the diocese of Aosta, in the chapel of the chalet in Les Combes.

In his homily, the Pope emphasized that "the life and mission of the priest are closely linked in the fulfillment of this Eucharistic sacrifice. ... I think in this moment of the great numbers of holy priests who have sacrificed themselves together with Christ in the service of the Christian people. I think of those who have spread the sweet perfume of Christ in this your land."

"A minister of Christ, of His Sacrifice and His mercy: this is the priest such as Jesus Himself wished, linking him indissolubly to the two sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation."

"May the experience of divine mercy sanctify you and make you generous ministers of forgiveness and reconciliation," the Holy Father exhorted the priests. "Do not be afraid to dedicate time and energy to the sacrament of Reconciliation. The People of God need more than ever to rediscover it, in its solemn liturgical dignity, as the ordinary way for the remission of grave sins and also in its beneficial 'humanizing' function. May the Cure of Ars be for you both model and guide."

At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, the Pope took leave of the security agents whom he thanked for having "contributed to ensuring, yet again, a tranquil and serene stay for myself and my colleagues."

This evening, at 6 p.m., John Paul II will travel from Les Combes to Aosta, from where he will fly to Rome's Ciampino airport and travel by car to his summer residence in Castelgandolfo

HML;PRIESTS; FAREWELL;...;LES COMBES;VIS;20010720;Word: 300;