THE POPE'S GREETINGS TO DIFFERENT GROUPS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 21, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received this morning in the Clementine Hall a group of young people from Catholic Action, the "Alpinisti Trentini" Choir, and the Italian "Friends of the Nativity" Association. He addressed the groups with some brief words.

"I appreciate with pleasure your initiative for peace, called 'Month of peace', which you plan to hold this coming January," the Pope said to the youth of Catholic Action. "It is an invitation to peace which ... acquires the strength of a convincing supplication, because the 'new measure' of the Kingdom of God is also perceived in the 'littleness' of children. The 'Month of peace', proposing your message of peace within the parish, will surely offer to believers the opportunity for further reflection on this precious gift which ... is the fruit and work of justice and love."

The Pope reminded the choir from Trent that "song is a unique way of raising to the Creator a hymn of praise and thanksgiving for the wonders of His love."

Lastly, John Paul II encouraged the Friends of the Nativity to "continue in your commitment to promote the traditional representation of the birth of Christ, in the footsteps of St. Francis."

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