AIRPORT CHAPLAINS FROM AROUND THE WORLD MEET IN PARIS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 17, 2002 (VIS) - The 35th Annual Conference of the International Association of Chaplains of Civil Aviation whose theme is, "The airport, a border or a place of exchange among cultures and peoples," opened this morning in Paris in the headquarters of UNESCO. The conference will end on September 20th.

In addition to Msgr. Franco Follo, permanent observer of the Holy See to UNESCO, and Msgr. Anthony Chirayath, official of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, more than one hundred airport chaplains from all continents are participating in the conference.

In a message sent to participants, John Paul II encourages them to "to value the opportunities that airports can provide, working for greater solidarity among the millions of travellers who use them every day and among airport employees who spend long hours in them." The Pope expresses his desire that the conference "will find ways to enhance the role of airport chaplains and further promote the use of airport chapels as a service to people on the move."

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