VATICAN - THE POPE SAYS AT ANGELUS PRAYER: “TO PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS MEANS REAWAKENING HOPE FOR PEACE AMONGST OURSELVES AND IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. HOW GREAT IS THE WORLD'S NEED OF THIS PEACE! I REPEAT MY CALL TO THE LEADERS OF THE GREAT RELIGIONS: LET US UNITE EFFORTS TO PREACH NON-VIOLENCE, FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION!”

Vatican City (Fides Service) – On 30 November, the first Sunday of Advent, Pope John Paul II made yet another call for world peace urging the leaders of the great religions to unite efforts to preach pardon and reconciliation.
“Today the Season of Advent begins, an itinerary of spiritual renewal in preparation for Christmas – the Pope said -. Christ the Prince of Peace is coming! To prepare for Christmas means to reawaken in ourselves and in the whole world hope for peace. Peace first of all in hearts, which is built by putting aside the arms of rancour, revenge and all forms of selfishness. The world has a great need of this peace! I think in particular with profound grief of the recent episodes of violence in the Middle East and on the continent of Africa, as well as daily news from many other parts of the world. I repeat my call to leaders of the great religions: let us unite our efforts to preach non-violence. Forgiveness and reconciliation!
The Pope then invoked the Blessed Virgin Mary, “the Virgin who waits” to help us to open hearts to the One who brings, by coming among us, the inestimable gift of peace to the whole of humanity.” After the prayer the Pope mentioned World Day Against AIDS on December 1: “While I pray for all those suffering from this scourge, I encourage those in the Church who offer these brothers and sisters an inestimable service of acceptance, care and spiritual accompaniment”. Lastly the Holy Father greeted the members of the S. Egidio Community in Rome “who are re-launching today their campaign against the death penalty in collaboration with many other cities all over the world.”
(S.L.) (Fides Service 1/12/2003 – lines 23; words 311)