POPE GREETS STAFF OF HOSPITAL NAMED FOR HIS BROTHER

VATICAN CITY, JUN 18, 2003 (VIS) - Following the catechesis of today's general audience, held in St. Peter's Square in the presence of 11,000 faithful, the Pope read summaries of his talk in French, English, Spanish, German, and Portuguese. He then briefly greeted pilgrims in those languages as well as in Romanian, Lithuanian, Hungarian, Slovakian and Polish.

In greeting Polish pilgrims, the Holy Father expressed his "special welcome to the staff of the hospital in Bielsko-Biala in which my brother worked and to which you have wished to give his name. Thank you so much for this commemoration!"

Continuing in Polish, John Paul II stated that the Canticle of Isaiah in today's catechesis "introduces us to the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, which we will celebrate tomorrow. The special presence that we feel not just in the sign of the temple, but in the sacrament of the Eucharist, constitutes the content of this solemnity. This is why we go out into the streets of the city and the countryside so that - following Christ Who is hidden in the Host - He may be glorified and thanked because He truly and uninterruptedly is present among us, Body and Blood, soul and divinity." He invited everyone, especially Romans, to participate in tomorrow evening's celebrations at the basilicas of St. John Lateran and St. Mary Major.

"This coming Sunday," the Pope said in conclusion, "I will go to Bosnia-Herzegovina to confirm in the faith that Catholic community which is committed to an important path of reconciliation and harmony. I ask you to accompany me in prayer on this apostolic trip which I entrust to the maternal care of Our Lady."

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