CONCERT IN HONOR OF POPE AT CASTELGANDOLFO

VATICAN CITY, SEP 8, 2002 (VIS) - This evening at 7:15 p.m. in the Apostolic Palace at Castelgandolfo, the Russian Symphony Orchestra performed a concert organized by the "Thousand Cities of the World" and the "World of Art" Programs in Moscow for John Paul II. Valery Gergiev conducted the orchestra and the children's choir of UNESCO and the choir of the Academy of Art, directed by Victor Popov, accompanied it.

At the end of the concert, the Pope greeted the participants and affirmed that he was very happy to receive "the noble message sent by His Holiness Alexis II, patriarch of Moscow and all of Russia, for this gathering. May my deferent and cordial regards reach him."

Afterward the Holy Father urged that the initiatives of the "World of Art" Foundation help to "spread human and spiritual values which are the necessary base for any kind of authentic moral, civil and cultural progress for Europe and for all humanity" and he expressed his desire that they promote "understanding and dialogue among people and nations."

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