HOLY FATHER DECRIES VIOLENCE IN MIDDLE EAST

VATICAN CITY, OCT 21, 2001 (VIS) - In reflections made before praying the Angelus with the faithful who came for the beatification this morning of a married couple from Rome, Luigi and Maria Quattrocchi, Pope John Paul decried the violence in the Holy Land and expressed his closeness to the victims.

He first recalled that "today we celebrate World Mission Day, instituted 75 years ago by Pope Pius XI" to remind us that the "mission entrusted by Christ to His Church (is) to announce the Gospel to all nations. This mandate has a special urgency today, at the start of the third millennium, if we look at that immense part of mankind that does not yet know or recognize Christ. Thus, the mission 'ad gentes', to all peoples, is more valid than ever."

Turning to the situation in the Middle East, John Paul II said: "At the present time there is no lack of threatening situations which fill all of mankind with anxiety. It is with deep sadness that I receive painful and worrisome news from Bethlehem, as well as from the cities of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour. War and death have even arrived at the square of the Basilica of the Nativity of Our Lord. In the name of God I repeat once again: violence is for everyone a path of death and destruction which dishonors the holiness of God and the dignity of man.

"I express to the families who are victims of violence my closeness in their pain, in prayer and in hope. They have the gift of living in the Holy Land, land which is holy for Jews, Christians and Muslims. It must be everyone's commitment to make this finally a land of peace and fraternity."

Last evening's meeting with families, and today's Mass and Angelus took place in the presence of the statue of Our Lady of Loreto. This is the first time since 1922 that the statue has left the shrine in Loreto, Italy.

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