HOLY FATHER ASSURES THE SICK OF REMEMBRANCE IN HIS DAILY PRAYER

VATICAN CITY, FEB 11, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father spoke briefly at the end of the Mass celebrated today in St. Peter's Basilica and presided over by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, his vicar general for the diocese of Rome, on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Seventh World Day of the Sick.

Addressing the sick and the volunteers accompanying them, the Pope said that today's celebration was "an appropriate time of prayer which spiritually unites the sick throughout the world, especially since February 11th, for the past seven years, has been the World Day of the Sick. Each year it is held at an important Marian shrine; today it is Harissa, near Beirut."

He concluded by saying: "I entrust each one of you to (Our Lady), invoking her consolation in your trials. I assure you of my daily prayer."

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