POPE ENTRUSTS MISSION OF ROME TO ST. THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 21, 1999 (VIS) - The Pope this morning celebrated Mass in the Roman parish of St. Therese of the Child Jesus in Panfilo, and entrusted the future of the Citizens' Mission to their patroness, familiarly called "Teresina" (little Therese).

Commenting on today's Gospel, which recounts the Resurrection of Lazarus, the Pontiff said that, "in a society in which signs of death emerge but in which a deep necessity of hope for life is also felt, Christians have the mission of continuing to proclaim Christ, mankind's 'resurrection and life'. Yes, in the face of symptoms of an extensive 'culture of death', the great revelation of Jesus 'I am the Resurrection and the Life' must still resound today."

The Holy Father recalled that St. Therese "intensely lived the missionary call within the walls of the Carmel, so much so that she came to be called patroness of the missions. Together with the Citizens' Mission, we also entrust to her 'the ad gentes mission' of the diocese of Rome and all Roman missionaries, who have gone to many places throughout the world to generously sow the seed of the Gospel."

"St. Therese reminds us of the enthusiasm and generosity of young people. Her continual abandonment into the hands of God's loving mercy made her youth more joyful and radiant. Dear young people of this parish and of this entire diocese whom I will have the joy to meet in the Vatican this Thursday: I wish you the simplicity of heart and the holiness of the 'young' Therese, so as to experience her trust in God's merciful providence. Are young people not precisely those who especially feel the need to be listened to, loved and forgiven?"

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