ANGELUS: JOHN PAUL II CALLS FOR PEACE IN THE HOLY LAND

VATICAN CITY, DEC 2, 2001 (VIS) - Before praying the Angelus this morning, John Paul II reminded the pilgrims present in St. Peter's Square that "with this first Sunday of Advent begins a new liturgical year."

The Pope affirmed that Advent is synonymous with hope, "a hope which urges vigilance, the characteristic virtue of this singular liturgical time. Vigilance in prayer, animated by loving expectation; vigilance in the dynamism of concrete charity, aware that the Kingdom of God is present where men learn to live as brothers."

"In today's liturgy resounds the celebrated and marvelous oracle of the prophet Isaiah, pronounced in a moment of crisis in the history of Israel. 'It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountains of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it. ... And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more'."

The Holy Father noted that "these words contain a promise of peace which is more then ever current for humanity and, in particular, for the Holy Land, from which even today comes sad and worrying news. May the words of the prophet Isaiah inspire the mind and heart of believers and men of good will, in order that the day of fasting, December 14, and the meeting of the representatives of the religions of the world in Assisi, on January 24, help to create a climate of reduced tension and of solidarity in the world."

After the Angelus the Pope recalled that today is the Day of the Disabled, promoted by the UN. "Recalling the great Jubilee encounter a year ago, I address a special greeting to all the people who live with a handicap and I assure them of my spiritual closeness. I also express my appreciation for every initiative which promotes a full and authentic social integration."

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