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Skriven 2005-03-31 08:04:14 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

EASTER: JOHN PAUL'S PRAYER FOR "WORDS AND DEEDS OF PEACE"

VATICAN CITY, MAR 27, 2005 (VIS) - Pope John Paul II appeared at the window of
his study shortly after noon today for the traditional "Urbi et orbi" message
and blessing, but he did not speak, as hoped for by the estimated 80,000
faithful who filled St. Peter's Square, Via della Conciliazione, the broad
avenue leading up to it, and adjacent streets. He waved several times and
blessed the pilgrims as they applauded enthusiastically, cheered him and called
out his name on a day marked by gray skies, intermittent rain and a splash of
sun as the Pope came to his window.

Also for the first time in his 26-year papacy, the Pope, who is still
recovering from his February 24 tracheotomy, did not preside at the Easter Mass
of the Resurrection of the Lord in St. Peter's Square, designating instead
Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State, as the principal celebrant at the
10:30 a.m. liturgy in a square which was beautified, as has become traditional,
by tens of thousands of multi-colored flowers, shrubs and flowering plants from
Holland. The cardinal also read the Pope's Urbi et orbi (to the city and the
world) message as John Paul II followed it, seated at the window.

The theme of the Holy Father's Easter message was taken from the words "Mane
nobiscum, Domine" (Stay with us, Lord), the title of his apostolic letter which
was published on October 8, 2004 for the start of the Year of the Eucharist.
Just as the two disciples on the road to Emmaus asked the "mysterious
Wayfarer," whom they did not immediately recognize as the Lord, to stay with
them, the Pope today said: "On this Easter day, together with all Christians
throughout the world, we too repeat these words: Jesus, Crucified and Risen,
stay with us! Stay with us, faithful friend and sure support for humanity on
its journey through history!... Bread of eternal life, nourish those who hunger
for truth, freedom, justice and peace."

"Stay with us, Living Word of the Father, and teach us words and deeds of
peace: peace for our world consecrated by your blood and drenched in the blood
of so many innocent victims: peace for the countries of the Middle East and
Africa, where so much blood continues to be shed; peace for all of humanity,
still threatened by fratricidal wars. Stay with us, Bread of eternal life,
broken and distributed to those at table: give also to us the strength to show
generous solidarity towards the multitudes who are even today suffering and
dying from poverty and hunger, decimated by fatal epidemics or devastated by
immense natural disasters."

"We, the men and women of the third millennium, we too need you, Risen Lord!
Stay with us now, and until the end of time. Grant that the material progress
of peoples may never obscure the spiritual values which are the soul of their
civilization. Sustain us, we pray, on our journey. In you do we believe, in you
do we hope, for you alone have the words of eternal life. Mane nobiscum,
Domine! Alleluia!"

At the end of Mass, a deacon announced that Pope John Paul granted his
apostolic blessing and a plenary indulgence to all participants in today's
liturgy, given that the usual conditions for such an indulgence are fulfilled.
"May the Lord preserve the Pope for a long time as guide for the Church,"
prayed the deacon, "and grant peace and unity to the Church throughout the
world."
JPII-HOLY WEEK/EASTER:URBI ET ORBI/...VIS 050330 (590)

SUMMARY

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