MULTI-LANGUAGE GREETINGS TO GENERAL AUDIENCE PILGRIMS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 25, 2001 (VIS) - Following today's general audience catechesis in Italian, and summaries in English, French, Spanish, German and Portuguese, Pope John Paul greeted the 8,500 pilgrims present in the Paul VI Hall in Dutch, Czech, Hungarian, and Slovakian. He also had special words in Italian, as is customary, for young people, the ill and for newlyweds.

Among those he welcomed today were folklore groups from a number of countries, representatives of the Socio-cultural Association of Solidarity with the Indios of America, some children from Chernobyl who are guests of families in the Italian region of Abruzzo and Russian and Belarussian children who have been received by the Mother Teresa Committee of Toritto, Italy.

In closing remarks, the Holy Father greeted "the religious congregations who, in these days, are celebrating their General Chapter. Dear brothers and sisters, it would have been my great desire to receive you personally but, as that is not possible, I willingly send all of you my heartfelt best wishes."

In brief remarks to each of the congregations present today, the Pope individually welcomed the Marianist Fathers, Daughters of Divine Charity, Ursuline Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Daughters of Mary of the Pious Schools, Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Missionaries of the Sacred Side and of Sorrowful Mary and the volunteers of Don Bosco.

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