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Skriven 2005-01-17 11:21:42 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
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              The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                        Vatican Information Service.
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                               VIS-Press releases

POPE, REGIONAL OFFICIALS EXCHANGE NEW YEAR GREETINGS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 13, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father this morning received the
mayor of Rome and the presidents of the region of Lazio and the province of
Rome, together with 250 employees of the city, region and province, for the
traditional exchange of New Year greetings.

He began his talk by expressing his "great pleasure for the approval of the
Statute of the region of Lazio," noting that it "underlines the role that Rome
has as the center of Catholicism, and explicitly recognizes the primacy of the
person and the fundamental value of life. It also recognizes the rights of the
family as a natural society founded on marriage and it proposes to support it
in fulfilling its social function." He added that the Statute "also provides
for the region to guarantee the right to study and the freedom of educational
choices."

Pope John Paul expressed satisfaction at the protocol signed between the
vicariate, the city and the region of Rome which intends to realize new parish
complexes on Rome's periphery.

The Pope then turned his attention to "problems worthy of particular attention,
above all that of housing, especially for young families with modest economic
resources." He expressed the hope that joint efforts by institutions would be
made to remedy the housing problem, "given the social implications that a lack
of adequate housing brings with it." He noted that "the sad phenomena of drug
addiction and, more broadly, the frustration of youth, call for ... an ever
vigilant commitment."

"What can we say of city traffic," he asked, "which becomes more congested and
difficult every year? It is the cause of notable difficulties in the daily
lives of many persons and families." He said he hoped "the question of traffic
flow and city transport can be handled in an organic way."

The Pope closed with an apostolic blessing which he extended to the citizens of
Rome, the province and the region.
AC/GREETINGS:OFFICIALS/ROME:LAZIOVIS 050113 (330)

SUMMARY

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