Text 1404, 46 rader
Skriven 2006-05-31 22:13:14 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service (Press Release)
===================================================
Hello All!

                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

TO POLES: REMAIN FAITHFUL CUSTODIANS OF CHRISTIAN DEPOSIT

VATICAN CITY, MAY 28, 2006 (VIS) - At the conclusion of the commemorative
ceremony for the victims of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps, the
Pope travelled by car to Krakow-Balice airport, where a brief final ceremony
was held before his departure for Rome.

Replying to an address from Lech Kaczynski, president of Poland, the Holy
Father recalled that, four years ago, when John Paul II left his homeland for
the last time, he called on the Polish nation "always to be guided by
sentiments of mercy, fraternal solidarity, and dedication to the common good,
and he expressed the firm conviction that in this way [Poland] would not only
find her proper place within a united Europe, but would also enrich this
continent and the whole world with her tradition.

"Today," he went on, "as your presence in the family of European States is
being constantly consolidated, I wish with my whole heart to repeat those words
of hope. I ask you to remain faithful custodians of the Christian deposit, and
to transmit it to future generations."

Benedict XVI thanked the Poles for their prayers for him since the moment of
his election as Peter's Successor, adding: "I would like you to continue to
remember me in your prayers, asking the Lord to increase my strength in the
service of the Universal Church."

After thanking the president of the Republic of Poland, the civil and religious
authorities, and everyone involved in the smooth running of his visit, the Pope
concluded his remarks with the words of St. Paul: "Be watchful, stand firm in
your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love."

The papal plane took off from Krakow at 9.50 p.m., arriving at Rome's Ciampino
airport at 11.30 p.m. From there, the Pope travelled back to the Vatican by
helicopter.
PV-POLAND/DEPARTURE/KRAKOW VIS 060529 (320)

SUMMARY

--- MPost/386 v1.21
 * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS =Meridian, MS= bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)