wfn.org | Pope Tells Americans: Violence in Holy Land is "Intolerable"

[JerusalemRelOrgs@aol.com]

For Information, contact:
For further information:
Fr. Raed Abusahlia
Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
P.O.Box  14152 - Jerusalem 97500
E-mail address: <A HREF="mailto:latinpat@actcom.co.il";>latinpat@actcom.co.il</A>
Personal e-mail: <A HREF="mailto:nonviolence@writeme.com";>nonviolence@writeme.com</A>
Patriarchate's Homepage: <A HREF="http://www.lpj.org/";>http://www.lpj.org</A>
Personal Homepage: <A HREF="http://go.to/nonviolence";>http://go.to/nonviolence</A>
Fr. Labib's Homepage: <A HREF="http://www.al-bushra.org/";>http://www.al-bushra.org</A>

JERUSALEM, April 8, 2002--Pope John Paul II has told a group of Americans 
that the levels of violence in the Holy Land are "intolerable," according to 
reports reaching here today from Rome via the Zenit.org press service.

The Pope expressed again his concern over the "unimaginable and intolerable 
levels" of violence in the Holy Land. 

The international panorama offers "compelling evidence of just how 
desperately mankind stands in need of God's grace and peace," he said. 

The Holy Father was addressing about 60 members of the Papal Foundation, a 
U.S. institution created in 1990 by the then archbishop of Philadelphia, 
Cardinal John Krol. The foundation collects funds annually to support the 
Pope's charitable endeavors. 

"The dire consequences of the tragic events of Sept. 11 are still with us," 
the Pope said when he received the U.S. pilgrims.  "The spiral of violence 
and armed hostility in the Holy Land -- the land of the Lord's birth, death 
and resurrection -- a land held sacred by the three monotheistic religions, 
has increased to unimaginable and intolerable levels." 

"Throughout the world, innocent men, women and children continue to suffer 
the ravages of war, poverty, injustice and exploitation of all kinds," John 
Paul II continued. 

"Indeed, we are currently experiencing a very difficult international 
situation, but the Lord's victory and his promise to remain with us until the 
end of the world are beacons of light beckoning us to meet the challenge 
before us with courage and trust," the Holy Father said. 

The Pope thanked the Papal Foundation which, through the generosity of many, 
"enables needed works to be carried out in the name of Christ and his 
Church." 

-end-