POLISH AGRICULTURAL ACADEMY CONFERS DOCTORATE ON POPE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 11, 2002 (VIS) - This morning, the Holy Father received in audience teachers and students from the academy of agricultural sciences of Warsaw, Poland, who conferred upon him a doctorate "honoris causa."

The Pope affirmed that the academy has "a long and rich tradition." There, he said, "distinguished scholars and politicians, as well as heroes of the struggle for independence, were formed and taught."

"The economic crisis in agriculture," he said, "also has an effect on national culture. Indeed, if many capable young people from rural areas cannot, for material reasons, continue their studies in high school and university, then spiritual impoverishment will undoubtedly result, not only for the countryside of Poland, but for all of society."

After emphasizing that "the educational activity of the academy includes over 50 specialized subjects," he underlined the need not to forget "the roots, the tradition, that require each member of the academy's community to be attentive to the development of the countryside and to engender love for the land of Poland, our nurturing mother."

The Pope concluded by encouraging teachers and students of the academy to offer "to all the inhabitants of cities and villages, a testimony of the love and respect due to Polish land and to those who, with the sweat of their brows, till that land. Do as much as you are able in order that the Polish countryside may enter with dignity, material well-being and spiritual wealth into the structure of a united Europe."

AC;...;...;POLISH AGRICULTURAL ACADEMY;VIS;20020111;Word: 260;