Wednesday, June 23, 1999

POPE GREETS GENERAL AUDIENCE PILGRIMS IN 11 LANGUAGES


VATICAN CITY, JUN 23, 1999 (VIS) - Following today's general audience catechesis in Italian, the Holy Father spoke briefly in five other languages about his apostolic trip to Poland and then greeted pilgrims present in St. Peter's Square in those languages as well as in Romanian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovakian, Croatian and Italian.

"I extend a cordial welcome," he said in English, "to the members of the Young Presidents' Organization and of the Summer University of Christian Culture, May your visit to Rome be an occasion of renewal in faith and in commitment to building a world of justice, peace and solidarity with those in need."

Welcoming a group of pilgrims from the Greek-Catholic eparchies of Romania, the Holy Father said he hoped that their pilgrimage would "be a stimulus for an ever more generous commitment of Christian witness in your country."

To Slovakian visitors, he said: "Priestly ordinations are being celebrated these days in Slovakia, as well as the first Masses by the newly ordained. Pray for the new priests, as for all priests, so that they will be priests according to the Heart of Jesus."

Greeting a group of officers of the Croatian Armed Forces, John Paul II said he hoped that "inspired by faith, you will always know how to place your own human and professional qualities at the service of man, of the common good, of security, freedom and peace."

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