STS. PETER AND PAUL: ANGELUS, ECUMENICAL DELEGATION AND MASS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 29, 2002 (VIS) - At midday today, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles, patrons of the city of Rome, John Paul II appeared at the window of his private study overlooking St. Peter's Square in order to pray the Angelus with the faithful present.

The Pope said that on this day which is "so significant," he was thinking about "the faithful of the dioceses of Rome and those who live in our city. While I congratulate all those who are named Peter and Paul, I invoke the celestial patrons for peace and Christian prosperity."

At 1 p.m., the Pope received in audience, as is tradition on this day, a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, headed by the metropolitan of Belgium and exarch of the Netherlands and Luxembourg, His Eminence Panteleimon, with Bishop Emmanuel of Reghion and Deacon Stephanos.

In his speech in French, the Holy Father recalled that during this year "the Lord has given us an occasion to show to the world our common will to search for and travel the paths that bring us to unity, to direct a call of peace to humanity and fraternity, in mutual respect, justice and charity."

"I desire to renew today to the Ecumenical Patriarch, His Holiness Bartholomew I," he continued, "the expression of my deep gratitude for their fraternal participation in the World Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi."

John Paul II emphasized that "there still remains a lot to do so that a better fraternity may reign on the planet. The desire for vengeance overtakes peace frequently, especially in the Holy Land and in other regions of the world affected by blind violence; this makes us feel the precariousness of peace that requires us to unite our strengths and to act together so that the world finds in our common testimony the necessary strength to accomplish the changes that are necessary. This way of collaboration will carry us to full communion, according to the will of Christ for his disciples."

At 6 p.m. in St. Peter's Square, the Pope presided at a Eucharistic celebration during which he blessed and imposed the pallium upon 28 metropolitan archbishops appointed in the last year and coming from 17 countries. The delegation of the patriarch of Constantinople was present, headed by Metropolitan Panteleimon and a delegation of the patriarch of Bulgaria, headed by His Eminence Simeon, metropolitan for Western and Central Europe.

In his homily, the Pope affirmed that "the Church celebrates today with joy the memory of Peter and Paul. The 'Rock' and the 'Chosen instrument' found themselves definitively here in Rome. In this place they carried out the apostolic ministry, marking it with their bloodshed. The itinerary mystery of faith and love that drove Peter and Paul to Jerusalem from the land of their birth, and to other parts of the world and finally to Rome, constitutes in a certain sense a model of the journey that all Christians are called to make in order to give testimony to Christ in the world."

"The Church is continually being put to the test. The message that it always received from the holy apostles Peter and Paul is clear and eloquent: through the grace of God, in all circumstances, it is possible for man to be a sign of the victorious power of God. For this reason, he should not be afraid. Whoever trusts in God, is freed from all fear and experiences the consoling presence of the Spirit also, especially in moments of trial and sorrow."

While addressing in particular the 28 metropolitan archbishops, the Holy Father said: "The special bond with the Apostolic See, that this liturgical sign (the pallium) expresses, serves as a stimulus for a greater commitment to the search for spiritual and pastoral communion for the benefit of the faithful, fostering in them a sense of unity and the universality of the Church.

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