POPE RECEIVES METROPOLITAN ARCHBISHOPS, RELATIVES AND FRIENDS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 30, 2003 (VIS) - This morning in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father welcomed the 40 metropolitan archbishops who received the pallium last evening, accompanied by their relatives and friends. He addressed those present in their native languages, including Italian, French, English, German, Spanish. Portuguese, Hungarian and Russian, and named each of the individual sees represented.

"Your presence reflects the universality of the Church," he told the archbishops. "Wearing the pallium, which symbolizes the very close bond that links you to the See of Peter, promote the spirit of communion of your particular Churches, announcing and giving witness of the Risen Jesus Christ through ecclesial action that infuses hope and animates charity."

"In naming your sees," the Pope stated, "we have touched upon numerous and diverse regions of the world. It is the world that God so loved that He sent His only Son to save it. It is to this world, through the same love, that the Church in which you are pastors is sent. Armed with the pallium, a sign of communion with the Apostolic See, go forth! Put out into the deep. May the saintly Apostles Peter and Paul always watch over your ministry, and may Mary Most Holy, Queen of the Apostles, protect you!"

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