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Monday, June 21, 2004

POPE: WE CANNOT IGNORE OUR ROOTS


VATICAN CITY, JUN 20, 2004, (VIS) - Before praying the Angelus today at midday with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Pope recalled that "last Friday we celebrated the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, last of the great liturgical feasts which, after the Easter season, constitute a wonderful syntheses of the Christian mystery: the Most Holy Trinity, the Body and Blood of Christ and, specifically, his Most Holy Heart."

  "No one can know Jesus Christ profoundly without penetrating his Heart," he said,
"that is, in the depth of his divine-human Person. The mystery of merciful love, which is expressed in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, helps us to live better today's World Refugee Day, whose theme is 'A Place to Call Home: To Rebuild Lives in Security and Dignity.' Every person has the need of a safe environment in which to live. Refugees aspire to this but, in many countries around the world, there are, unfortunately, millions who remain in refugee camps, or at least limited in the exercise of their rights."

  "Let us not forget our refugee brothers!" he exclaimed.  "I express my appreciation and encouragement to all those in the Church who work by their side. At the same time, I appeal for a renewed commitment by the international community, so that the causes of this painful phenomenon will be removed."

  The Holy Father concluded by asking Our Lady, "that humanity, receiving the message of love of Christ, may make progress in fraternity and in peace and that the earth will become the 'common home' of all nations."

  After the Marian prayer, addressing his compatriots in Polish, John Paul II expressed his disappointment that the Christian roots of Europe were not recognized in the European constitution: "We cannot forget our roots," he affirmed with energy.  "I thank Poland who in the European forum has faithfully defended the Christian roots of our continent from which our culture and the development of the civilization of our time has come."
ANG/REFUGEES:CHRISTIAN ROOTS/...            VIS 20040621 (350)


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