Vatican City (Fides Service) - "The most important reason for re-proposing the rosary prayer is the fact that it is a valid means to foster among the faithful that commitment to contemplating the face of Christ for which I called at the end of the Great Jubilee 2000". Pope John Paul II said this before reciting the midday Angelus prayer with the crowds gathered in St Peter's Square yesterday, Sunday 27 October. To the people who had come to pray with him and receive his blessing, the Holy Father recommended that the Rosary be prayed in the family because it is a "prayer naturally oriented towards peace". "In this Year of the Rosary - the Pope continued - Catholics are called to keep their eyes fixed on Christ, the Prince of Peace, so that there may prevail in hearts and among peoples thoughts and actions of justice and peace". Referring to the Moscow theatre tragedy last week, the Pope said "We invoke the intercession of Our Lady, deeply loved by the people of Russia who are suffering. While we pray for the victims of this tragedy we ask the Virgin Mary to obtain that similar events never happen again." See full Angelus address in Italian www.fides.org. (Fides Service 28/10/2002)