VATICAN CITY, SEP 16, 2001 (VIS) - Following Mass this morning in Frosinone, a city southeast of Rome, the Holy Father prayed the Angelus with the 40,000 faithful present, asking the Virgin Mary to help the victims and families of last Tuesday's terrorist attacks in the United States. He then participated in a brief celebration with the young people of Frosinone who also commemorated the victims of the attacks.
"May the Blessed Virgin," said John Paul II, "bring comfort and hope to all who are suffering because of the tragic terrorist attack that profoundly wounded the beloved American people in recent days. To all the sons and daughters of that great nation I now address my heartfelt thoughts and participation. May Mary receive the dead, console the survivors, sustain the families which have been especially tried and help everyone not to give in to the temptation to hatred and violence, but to commit themselves to serving justice and peace.
"May Mary Most Holy nourish, especially in the young, high human and spiritual ideals and the constancy necessary to realize them. May she remind them of the primacy of eternal values so that, especially in these difficult moments, commitments and daily activities may continue to be always oriented towards God and His Kingdom of solidarity and peace."
After the angelus, and a celebration with young people, the Pope told them: "The Lord is counting on each of you; He wants you to be protagonists of the civilization of life and love. Help each other to be witnesses of the Gospel and apostles of your peers.
"I greet each of you, one by one, and make a date with you, at least in spirit, for the great meeting of the world's Christian youth which will take place next July in Toronto for the World Youth Day."
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