POPE INAUGURATES NEW VATICAN UNDERGROUND PARKING LOT

VATICAN CITY, JUN 2, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father this morning visited and inaugurated the Vatican's new three-story underground parking facility, expressing "great satisfaction for this new structure" which "helps make Vatican City more welcoming and serviceable, while keeping intact, even enriching, its artistic and environmental characteristics."

He said that, during his visit, he came to "realize its usefulness and above all how it had been planned and built, fully respecting the environmental impact. The green areas have not been reduced and obvious improvements have been made in the street layout."

John Paul II congratulated "everyone who has collaborated in planning and building" the parking lot, and asked the Lord's blessing "on this building, on the cars which will be parked here and above all on everyone who, for whatever reason, enters here."

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