VATICAN CITY, FEB 7, 2004 (VIS) - Made public today was a Message from Pope John Paul to Bishop Vincenzo Paglia of Terni-Narni-Amelia and through him, to the participants in the Sixth International Meeting of Bishops and Priests, Friends of the Sant'Egidio Community as they gather in Rome from numerous countries "to live together moments of reflection and prayer in a climate of fraternity, enriched by the presence of leaders of other Churches and ecclesial communities."
The Pope recalls that what unites the participants is their "tie to the Sant'Egidio Community, an association that for 36 years has undertaken a much-appreciated service of evangelization and charity in the city of Rome and in other places in Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia." He pointed to the theme of the meeting, "The Gospel of Charity," noting that "Blessed John XXIII loved to say that the Church is in everyone, but in a special way in the poor. . The Kingdom of God belongs to the poor who, according to several Fathers of the Church, can be our advocates to God."
"Venerable brother," says the Pope, "for the Sant'Egidio Community and all those who intend to share its spirit, love for the poor continues to be its distinctive mark. May each one know how to be 'close' to those in need and to thus feel the truth of the Bible's words: 'There is greater joy in giving than in receiving'."
MESS/POOR:SANT'EGIDIO/PAGLIA VIS 20040209 (240)
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