PRAYER FOR TRIP TO KAZAKHSTAN AND ARMENIA AND FOR SYNOD

VATICAN CITY, SEP 9, 2001 (VIS) - This morning John Paul II invited the faithful present at the recitation of the Angelus to pray for his upcoming apostolic trip to Kazakhstan and Armenia, September 22-27, and for the Synod of Bishops, scheduled for the end of this month.

The Pope, speaking at the summer residence of Castelgandolfo, noted that next Sunday morning he will make a pastoral visit to the Italian diocese of Frosinone-Veroli-Ferentino and on September 22, would leave for Kazakhstan and Armenia, "two Republics of the ex-Soviet Union which became independent 10 years ago." He expressed the hope that these visits will "contribute to the cause of the new evangelization and ecumenical dialogue."

"From September 30 to October 27," the Pope continued, "the 10th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will be held at the Vatican, in order to reflect on the episcopal ministry in the Church and the world." The teaching of the decree of Vatican Council II, "Christus Dominus," the Holy Father explained, will be "the principle reference point of the work of the synod. ... The Council teaching will be reread in the light of the last decade and above all in the perspective of the new evangelization."

The Holy Father affirmed, finally, that "The Gospel phrase 'Duc in altum - Put out into the deep', which I proposed as the motto for the beginning of the new millennium, is addressed first of all to the Bishops, successors of the apostles, and it calls them to commit themselves with confidence to this new missionary season of the Church."

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