GREETING TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE ROME MARATHON

VATICAN CITY, JAN 1, 2000 (VIS) - "Life may be compared to a unique marathon that we are all called to run, each in their own way and at their own pace," said John Paul II to the thousands of athletes and participants from various counties who took part in this year's City of Rome Marathon. He greeted them before they started the race from St. Peter's Square.

"Nonetheless," said the Pope, "we all share a common finishing line, and that is the meeting with Christ." He took the opportunity offered by the event with which the athletes were starting the Jubilee Year to express the hope that all men and women may be aware "of the meaning and value of a life spent in the service of others, in keeping with God's providential design."

ANG;ROME MARATHON;...;...;VIS;20000103;Word: 150;

POPE CALLS US TO LOVE ALL MANKIND WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION

VATICAN CITY, JAN 1, 2000 (VIS) - From his study window, the Pope addressed some words to the thousands of pilgrims who were gathered in St. Peter's Square to pray the angelus. He said: "The Gospel teaches us that dialogue, cooperation, respect for life and solidarity are the appropriate instruments for creating new relationships between peoples and countries, between rich and poor, between believers and non-believers."

After rendering thanks to God "who offers us the chance to start another year," the Pope indicated that "God loves us, He gives each of us the hope of a new period of time, a time of salvation and peace."

John Paul II highlighted that "Christ is our peace. He calls us to love all human beings without discrimination, converting heart and mind to thoughts of peace and rejecting the temptation to violence and war."

The Holy Father remarked that on this day he felt especially close "to the victims of violence, to those who feel abandoned." Making reference to the Virgin Mary, he said: "We begin the year 2000 under the loving gaze of the Mother of God who gave Christ, Prince of Peace, to the world."

In conclusion, the Pope extended new year greetings to the world in different languages.

ANG;PEACE;...;...;VIS;20000103;Word: 220;

OPENING OF HOLY DOOR AT ST. MARY MAJOR

VATICAN CITY, JAN 1, 2000 (VIS) - Today, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and 33rd World Day of Peace, the Pope opened the Holy Door of St. Mary Major and celebrated Mass.

In his homily, John Paul II made reference to peace, stating that the path to consolidating this is "unfortunately under ever greater threat, as the painful events that at various times have marked the history of the twentieth century remind us. For this reason, we must more than ever wish for peace in the name of God. May the Lord give you peace!"

"On this most important of days," continued the Holy Father, "I have had the joy of opening the Holy Door in this venerable basilica founded by Liberius, the first basilica in the west to be dedicated to the Virgin Mother of Christ. Today, a week after the solemn celebration that took place in St. Peter's, it is as if the ecclesial community of each nation and continent were gathered here in spirit, under the gaze of the Mother, in order to cross the threshold of the Holy Door that is Christ."

After recalling the words of the Gospel: "Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart," the Pope said that "all mothers have a similar awareness of the start of a new life within them. Each man's story is written, first of all, in his own mother's heart. It is no surprise that the same thing came about in the earthly life of the Son of God."

"Mary was present with the Apostles on the day of the Pentecost. She played a direct role in the birth of the Church. Since that time, her maternity has accompanied the history of redeemed humanity, the path of the great human family for whom the work of Redemption is destined. Oh Mary! At the start of the year 2000, as the Jubilee progresses, we rely upon this 'recollection' of your maternity! ... To you we entrust the days of the new year, the future of the Church, of humanity, of the universe itself."

HML;HOLY DOOR;...;ST. MARY MAJOR;VIS;20000103;Word: 360;

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JAN 3, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, apostolic nuncio in Rwanda.
- Bishop Raul Vera Lopez O.P., of Saltillo, Mexico.
- Participants in a youth seminar on the Church's social doctrine.

AP;...;...;...;VIS;20000103;Word: 40;

150,000 CHILDREN FROM 30 COUNTRIES CELEBRATE THEIR JUBILEE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 2, 2000 (VIS) - This morning in St. Peter's Square, 150,000 children and adolescents from 30 countries took part in the Children's Jubilee which was convened in Rome by the Pope.

After welcoming the thousands of pilgrims and listening to the messages addressed to him by children representing different countries, the Pope spoke to the young people, expressing thanks for the enthusiasm and joyous atmosphere with which they filled St. Peter's Square.

At the start of his speech, the Pope told the children that "God is the good Father, always ready to forgive and to offer His children the chance to live and hope once more. Once again He opens His heart to us, so that all men and women, repenting their sins, ... may return to the path that leads to Him."

Going on in French, the Holy Father said that "life acquires its full value when it becomes a gift for others. ... Only with Christ can great things be achieved, only with Him is it possible to be happy and to make others happy."

The Pope made mention, in English, of "all those of your own age who are suffering hunger or violence, and those who are victims of hideous forms of exploitation. How could we forget the many children who are denied even the right to be born?

"When people want to build a world ignoring God and His law, they are in fact giving rise to a situation of more and more suffering and injustice. With the Jubilee the Lord invites us to correct these wrongs. ... Jesus also needs you for this task. He is entrusting his plans to you and he is asking you: Do you wish to be my friend? Do you wish to help me make the world more beautiful and welcoming? Do you wish to be witnesses to my love in the Church and in the world?"

The Pope also spoke in Spanish to the children gathered in St. Peter's Square, recalling the Gospel passage about the Child Jesus lost in the Temple and encouraging all to "return home, transformed by the love of Jesus who has given you His friendship.

Finally, in Polish, the Pope told the children that they were the hope of humanity.

At the close of the event, the Pope awarded the John XXIII International Peace Prize to the non-governmental organization 'ATD - Aide a toute detresse- Quart Monde.' This body was founded in Paris, France, in 1957 by Fr. Wresinski and today has a presence in many parts of the world, where it works in support of needy children.

AC;CHILDREN'S JUBILEE;...;...;VIS;20000103;Word: 440;