URBI ET ORBI BLESSING IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE

VATICAN CITY, DEC 21, 2002 (VIS) - This morning Joaquin Navarro-Valls, director of the Holy See Press Office, made the following declaration:

"Restoration work has been going on for some months on the interior of the facade of St. Peter's Basilica. This work also affects the Hall of Blessings, which, as is known, runs horizontally across the facade of the Basilica at the level of the central balcony.

"For this reason, this year the Holy Father will impart the 'Urbi et Orbi' Christmas blessing from St. Peter's Square and not from the central balcony."

OP;CHRISTMAS BLESSING;...;NAVARRO VALLS;VIS;20021223;Word: 110;