MULTI-LINGUAL GREETINGS TO PILGRIMS AT GENERAL AUDIENCE

VATICAN CITY, APR 5, 2000 (VIS) - As is customary following the general audience catechesis in Italian, and summaries in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and German, Pope John Paul greeted the pilgrims at the audience in numerous languages.

Addressing each group in its own language, the Pope had special words about Lent, the meaning of pilgrimage and of the Jubilee indulgence for the faithful from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Croatia.

Speaking Russian, he extended "a cordial welcome to the delegation from the Russian government involved in the TACIS project. I thank you for your visit and, while I wish a positive outcome for your Italian meetings, I ask for you and your dear ones, copious blessings from heaven." TACIS is a program of European Union assistance to countries in Eastern and Central Europe and those which were formerly members of the Soviet Union.

The Holy Father concluded in Italian, remarking that "Saturday, April 8 is the International Day of the Rom and the 'Sinti', dedicated this year to the condition of the gypsies who were victims of the conflict in Kosovo. I hope that this day manages to promote the full respect of the human dignity of these brothers of ours, favoring their adequate insertion into society. With special joy I am looking forward to the encounter which I will have on the occasion of the Jubilee celebrations for migrants and itinerant peoples, at the start of June."

AG;GREETINGS;...;...;VIS;20000405;Word: 250;