VATICAN, Dec. 20. 00 (CWNews.com) - At his regular public audience on Wednesday, Pope John Paul II turned his attention to Bethlehem.
«In these days, Bethlehem becomes the place to which the eyes of all believers are turned,» the Holy Father remarked. He underlined the importance of the Christmas celebration in this Jubilee year, marking the 2000th anniversary of Christ's birth. His fondest hope, he said, is that «Christmas reawakens in everyone the will to be active and courageous builders of the civilization of love.»
In an apparent reference to the tensions that are now afflicting Bethlehem, the Pope went on to say that «on the road to a better understanding among peoples, the challenges that the world must face are still many.» He called on all men of good will to join in the effort to promote better relations between different cultures. And he made a special request for his listeners to pray for peace in Bethlehem itself for the Christmas celebration.
This was the 45th and last Wednesday audience of the Jubilee year for Pope John Paul II. (Next Wednesday the Pope will be relaxing after the Christmas celebrations, and no public audience is scheduled.) About 20,000 pilgrims were in attendance.
Catholic World News Service - Vatican Update
20. desember 2000