YOUNG PEOPLE: BE FAITHFUL TO MORAL AND SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES

VATICAN CITY, MAR 15, 2003 (VIS) - This afternoon in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father participated in a prayer vigil with thousands of young college students in celebration of the First European Day of University Students on the theme "Intellectual Charity, soul of the new Europe."

The gathering began at 6 p.m. with a series of reflections on the Pope's Apostolic Letter "Rosarium Virginis Mariae." There were also satellite connections with Uppsala, Sweden, Bratislava, Slovakia, Krakow, Poland, Cologne, Germany, Fatima, Portugal and Vienna, Austria. At 7 p.m., the Pope arrived at the Paul VI Hall where he presided over the recitation of the Rosary and then spoke to the young people.

"This afternoon," John Paul II said, "we have prayed for Europe in an important moment in history. Young people can and must participate in the building of a new Europe, contributing with their aspirations and ideals, study and work, their creativity and generous dedication. Young Christians are called in a special way to announce and give witness to Christ and to be, in His name, builders of unity in diversity, freedom in truth, peace in justice, that peace which the world needs especially right now."

"Dear young people," he said, "I entrust you with something that I have at heart: that the new generations may be faithful to the high moral and spiritual principles that in the past inspired the fathers of a united Europe."

After summoning young Romans to St. Peter's Square on Thursday, April 10 as a prelude to World Youth Day, which will be celebrated on Palm Sunday, he affirmed: "We will perform together a solemn act of entrustment to the Virgin, asking her to watch over you and to protect your way as young people in the third millennium."

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