Braving cold, wet weather, Pope John Paul II called for peace in the Middle East during his traditional Christmas appearances at St Peter's Square in the Vatican.
Published:
26 December 2000 y., Tuesday
In his Christmas day address, the Pope said he was thinking with "great concern of the Holy Land, where violence continues to stain with blood the difficult path to peace".
His intervention comes as Palestinians and Israelis mull over the latest proposal for peace from US President Bill Clinton. The Pope, who will be 81 next May, insisted on celebrating mass in the open air, rather than inside St Peter's Basilica, to enable more pilgrims to attend.
St Peter's can only hold a maximum of 8,000 people, while the square can accommodate more than 100,000.
About 40,000 people gathered on the square for the mass - fewer than expected, due to the persistent rain.
The pontiff read his homily in a clear, strong voice, and celebrated the mass from an altar covered with a canopy and protected on two sides by sheets of glass.
Šaltinis:
BBC News
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
Civil unrest in Kyrgyzstan last week left over 70 people dead, more than 1500 injured and over 500 hospitalized.
more »
After lots were drawn, ten winners of Danske Bankas scholarships and one winner of an iPod shuffle player were established.
more »
The health of Chinese civil rights activist Hu Jia is causing real fears after reports that the winner of the Parliament's 2008 Sakharov human rights prize is ailing with liver disease.
more »
Nestled in the northeast plains of India, Bihar is one of the poorest states in the country. Its per capita income is just a fraction of that in other Indian states.
more »
One day after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake rattled the Mexico-California border area, Mexico‘s President visits one of the affected areas.
more »
Roma communities, the European Union’s largest ethnic minority, continue to face persistent discrimination and segregation.
more »
This the sound of spring for many in Latvia. With a little guidance from their parents, children at the Riga Zoo made bird boxes in anticipation of the returning migrating birds.
more »
Economic shocks are taking a toll on a population already facing high risks in low-income countries: children.
more »
As celebrations for Easter week get under way millions of the faithful will be heading to Churches across Europe to mark the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.
more »
More than 200, 000 riders and their horses are in Uruguay’s capital for South America’s largest rodeo.
more »