VATICAN CITY, DEC 18, 2002 (VIS) - At the end of the catechesis of today's general audience, John Paul II greeted the many pilgrims gathered in the Paul VI Hall. He addressed in a special way the faithful of Croatia, the nation who gave the Vatican the Christmas tree that is in St. Peter's Square.
The tree, which came from a national park in the region of Gorski kotar, Croatia is 28 meters high and weighs 7 tons, and is decorated with traditional Croatian hearts.
"I thank you," the Pope said, "for this gift of the Christmas tree, offered as a sign of the profound bond that has united the Croatian people to the Holy See of Peter for fourteen centuries. I thank especially all those who were involved in coming up with the idea of the tree which was proposed four years ago in the Croatian Episcopal Conference after my pastoral visit to Zagreb, Marija Bistrica, Split and Sonin."
"In the next few days," he continued, "this gift from Croatia will remind visitors to this hall and pilgrims who will come to St. Peter's Square of the mystery of the Incarnation which illuminated the horizons of humanity with new hope. May the light of that hope help the men and peoples of our time to recognize Emmanuel - God with us - in the Child born in Bethlehem, and to welcome Him in our daily life in order to continue faithfully along our way on the paths of history."
Later, John Paul II addressed a group of Italian pilgrims from the region of Molise which suffered the effects of an earthquake this past November in which 54 children died. "While I assure you of my constant prayers for you and your families," he exclaimed, "I encourage you to look to the future with faith and hope. I hope that the attention and solidarity of the whole nation for your communities does not cease."
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