POPE ANNOUNCES "A PERIOD OF REST" IN ITALIAN MOUNTAINS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 9, 2000 (VIS) - Pope John Paul, after praying the noon angelus today with tens of thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, told them that "tomorrow, God willing, I will go for a period of rest to the mountains of Valle d'Aosta."

"I would like to greet all those," he added, "who are already on vacation in various places and those who are still in the city. In a special way my thoughts turn to the young people who are taking their end-of-the-year exams. I would also like to greet all who cannot go on vacation. I am thinking about those who are sick, older persons, people who are alone and all who for various reasons must stay at home. May solidarity be shown to them."

ANG;VACATION;...;...;VIS;20000710;Word: 140;