Vatican City (Fides Service) - In the evening of Saturday 25 January, Pope John Paul II presided Ecumenical Vespers in St Paul's outside the Walls, as the closing service of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Present to pray with the Pope and the large congregation filling the Basilica, representatives from various denominations including the Church of England, Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, and Valdese. In his homily the Pope said: "It is my great desire that the Church of Rome, which Providence has entrusted with a unique "presidency in charity" (Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Romans, Introduction), may increasingly become a model of fraternal ecumenical relations. As Christians, we know that we are called to bear witness before the world to the "glorious Gospel" which Christ has given to us (cf. 2 Cor 4:4). In his name, let us unite our efforts in order to be at the service of peace and reconciliation, justice and solidarity, especially at the side of the poor and the least of the earth. In this context, I would like to recall the Day of Prayer for World Peace held in Assisi one year ago, on 24 January. That inter-religious event sent a powerful message to the world: every authentically religious person is obliged to ask God for the gift of peace, with renewed determination to promote and build peace together with other believers. The theme of peace remains as urgent as ever. It makes particular demands on the followers of Christ, the Prince of Peace, and it represents a challenge and a commitment for the ecumenical movement." See complete text of homily in English and other languages at www.fides.org. (Fides Service 27/1/2003)