RESTORE HOLY SITES TO PRAYER, PILGRIMS, GOD AND MAN!

VATICAN CITY, APR 21, 2002 (VIS) - Following the priestly ordination this morning in St. Peter's Basilica of 20 deacons of the diocese of Rome, Pope John Paul greeted the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square for the recitation of the Regina Coeli.

He reminded the pilgrims that "following a significant tradition, today, the fourth Sunday of Easter, we celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. This Sunday is also called Good Shepherd Sunday because in the Gospel Jesus gives Himself this eloquent biblical title. ... I invite everyone to raise to God a chorus of prayer, especially on this Day, for a flowering of numerous and holy vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life among the People of God."

The Holy Father then spoke of the Middle East, saying "our prayers also continue insistently for the situation in the Holy Land from where, unfortunately, worrisome news and scenes of destruction continue to arrive. These are images that are stronger than any appeal and they induce one to try everything, at all levels, so that this Land, blessed by God, will come out of the spiral of hatred and violence as soon as possible.

"In particular," he stated, "every day I spiritually visit Bethlehem, and the Basilica of the Nativity, where I lived unforgettable moments during the course of my Jubilee pilgrimage. For almost 20 days now the basilica and connected buildings have been the theatre of clashes, blackmail and unbearable exchanges of accusations. May that place, and all the holy sites, be immediately restored to prayer and pilgrims, to God and to man!"

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