Vatican (Fides Service) - "What is the study of theology if not a specific way of searching for God? And also the study of the other sciences taught at your universities, is it not approaching the realities of mankind, the Church, history, in which God reveals himself and his inscrutable mystery of salvation?" Pope John Paul asked these questions during his homily for the annual Mass with students and professors of the Ecclesiastical Universities of Rome, on Friday 25 October in St Peter's Basilica. Reflecting on the Gospel of the day, the Pope said: "Teachers and students are called to be constantly attentive to the signs of the times in relation to the Central Sign of divine revelation, Christ the Lord. In particular they are called to renew their service to the unity of the Church". See Holy Father's homily in Italian at www.fides.org. (SL) (Fides Service 28/10/2002)