PILGRIMS FROM ROMAGNA RECALL JOHN PAUL II'S VISIT

VATICAN CITY, OCT 7, 2006 (VIS) - This morning in the Paul VI Hall, the Pope received a large group of pilgrims from dioceses in the Italian region of Romagna, who have come to Rome to commemorate the apostolic trip made to their region by Servant of God John Paul II 20 years ago.

  Benedict XVI told his audience how happy he was that, during their pilgrimage, they were reconsidering the talks pronounced by his predecessor in 1986.

  Referring to the evangelizing mission of diocesan communities, the Holy Father indicated that "this demanding missionary mandate can be fulfilled only with the support of God, and with the convinced and courageous evaluation of the spiritual heritage that the people of Romagna have learnt to defend over the course of the centuries."

  The Pope highlighted the fact that today, as 20 years ago, "there is no lack of challenges and problems for those who wish to live in coherence with their faith, exerting themselves to combine it with the requirements of everyday life." In this context, he recalled "the crises threatening so many families; the growing need for priestly and religious vocations to counter the worrying drop in numbers and increasing age of priests; ... [and] the numerous pitfalls of a consumer-driven and secularized society that seeks to seduce ever greater numbers of people, inducing them to a progressive abandonment of the values of the faith in their family, civil and political lives.

  "These challenges," he added, "must be faced without losing heart, looking with trust to the many reasons for hope which, thanks to God, are not lacking. There are, for example, many people who wish to give meaning and solid value to their lives, men and women interested in a strong and sincere religious quest."

  Paraphrasing the words of John Paul II to young people on his visit to the region - "bear witness to the joy of being Christians!" - the Holy Father said "may this be the commitment of you all. To this end continue, indeed intensify, ecclesial communion and be generous protagonists in the evangelizing mission with which the Lord entrusts you, treasuring the guidance that arose from that memorable visit of 20 years ago, and strengthened also by the grace of this pilgrimage."
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