ARCHBISHOP WELCOMES CYCLIST TOURING THE WORLD FOR PEACE

VATICAN CITY, APR 11, 2003 (VIS) - Archbishop Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, this morning welcomed Poupeh Mahdvinader to the Rome offices of the council. Mahdvinader is a 29-year old Muslim social worker from Iran, who is travelling around the world, via bicycle and on foot, to bring to the people of the nations she visits a message of peace and friendship among peoples. She is also collecting funds to use for orphans.
A communique from the council notes that the Iranian cyclist hopes to leave St. Peter's Square next week and to travel by bicycle through Italy, France and England. She intends to fly to the United States, cross it on a bike, fly to Japan, where she will travel on foot and then, via plane and ship, travel to New Zealand, China, India, and Oman. She will conclude her pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

The council communique adds that Mahdvinader, whose work in Iran is dedicated to assisting orphans, is undertaking this "humanitarian adventure," expected to last one year, as a personal and private initiative. Her motto is "Love, friendship and global peace."

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