POPE JOHN PAUL IN GREAT SPIRITS, ENJOYING VACATION

VATICAN CITY, JUL 15, 2001 (VIS) - Before the Holy Father recited the Angelus at noon today, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls related some details of the papal vacation, from the chalet where the Pope is staying in Les Combes, Valle d'Aosta.

Navarro-Valls affirmed that John Paul II "is enjoying his vacation which he is spending in a contemplative way and praying very much. The Pope does a bit of physical exercise, enjoys the countryside and the tranquility of the area and he seems in excellent spirits to me: it is necessary to recall that, from the Jubilee to today, he has shouldered periods of very intense work, and to be able to enjoy rest and the small daily things helps him very much."

Referring to the trip which the Holy Father made last Thursday, to the Beta Forca ski-lift, at an altitude of 2,700 meters, Navarro-Valls related that the Pope looked at the lift with curiosity and when those running it, observing that there were not many people, asked him if perhaps he wished to take a ride, the Pope accepted with enthusiasm. Navarro-Valls offered to pay the ticket, but the woman who runs the lift with her family would take no payment. "He had a wonderful time, had an expression of real enjoyment and, even though it was very cold, didn't feel it at all," Navarro-Valls said.

During these days, the Pope continues to rise early "but after six, which is only a little later than usual. After praying, the celebration of Mass, breakfast and reading, he leaves for outings in the mountains."

Navarro-Valls also stated that, contrary to other years, John Paul II is not preparing any document, and is dedicating much time to reading; "he reads texts in Polish, Italian, German, on different themes."

The Pope is abreast of the principal events of these days, and also requested information on the attack last Saturday by ETA terrorists in Spain, in which a city official and an officer of the Basque autonomous police were killed.

The press office director said that the inhabitants of Les Combes have been thinking, for some time, of changing the name of their town to "Les Combes of the Pope," considering that the Pope has vacationed there nine times.

In view of the Pope's upcoming commitments, Navarro-Valls announced that the Holy Father will travel, in the last week of September, to Kazakhstan and Armenia, and will probably speak in Russian, the only common language of Kazakhstan.

...;VACATION POPE;...;NAVARRO-VALLS;VIS;20010716;Word: 430;