Vatican City (Fides Service) - "I am happy to greet you and to offer my warm good wishes on the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Pontifical Beda College. I join you in giving praise to God for the many graces that have come to the Church through the work of the College in the years since its foundation." Pope John Paul II said this to the students and staff of the Pontifical Beda College in Rome, whom he welcomed in audience in the Vatican on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the college, which specialises in "late vocations". In his address the Pope recalled the circumstances of the foundation of the college: "It was a time of great turbulence when Blessed Pope Pius IX established what became the Collegio Pio. Society was in turmoil, and the Church was not spared the troubles of the age. In England, a number of Anglicans had decided to seek Ordination in the Catholic Church; and this prompted the Pope to establish the College". See text of Papal address. (Fides Service 10/12/2002)