MULTI-LINGUAL GREETINGS TO JUBILEE PILGRIMS IN ROME

VATICAN CITY, OCT 11, 2000 (VIS) - Following today's general audience catechesis in Italian, the Pope then read summaries in English, French, Spanish, German, and Portuguese, and greeted the pilgrims in St. Peter's Square in those languages as well as in Croatian, Slovakian, Czech and Lithuanian.

He welcomed French-speaking pilgrims from the diocese of Creteil, France, readers of Le Pelerin Magazine, a group of faithful from Vietnam and an ecumenical group from Greece. "May your Jubilee pilgrimage rekindle your faith and make you witnesses of the Risen Christ and artisans of peace among your brothers!"

The Holy Father then greeted pilgrims from the archdiocese of Saint Andrew's and Edinburgh in Scotland and from the diocese of Leeds in England. He had special words for "the pilgrims from the archdiocese of Washington led by Cardinal James Hickey to whom I offer my cordial best wishes for his 80th birthday, which he is celebrating today."

"I greet with affection," the Pope went on, "Spanish-speaking pilgrims, especially the Venezuelan bishops, with the superiors and students of the new college which they are going to inaugurate in Rome for the formation of priests."

Speaking Czech, John Paul II recalled that "next Saturday,the World Encounter of Families starts here in Rome. Even Jesus Christ entered into the history of mankind by means of the Holy Family of Nazareth. He wishes to be with us in each family. Make room also for Him."

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