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
The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) will, for the first time, open its doors in Vilnius on 16 December 2009.
more »
The European Commission has today launched a public consultation on the future of air passenger Rights and released a top 12 list of recommendations to guarantee travellers a safe and problem-free journey this Christmas.
more »
Japan's Toyota Motor announced that it will begin selling "plug-in" hybrid cars in mass volumes in two years' time.
more »
The first results of the latest Eurobarometer survey reveal that for Europeans unemployment is the most important issue facing their own country, while concerns about the economic situation have lessened slightly.
more »
The Human Rights Day focuses on non-discrimination with the motto “Embrace diversity, end discrimination”.
more »
With the season‘s holidays approaching DnB NORD Bankas issued the first gift card in Lithuania that allows the card holder to pay for the presents they enjoy in any shopping, entertainment or catering place where Maestro payment cards are accepted.
more »
Australian journalist Nigel Brennan was on his way to a camp in Somalia in August last year, to highlight the plight of the country's refugees, when he and his colleague, Amanda Lindhout were kidnapped by gunmen.
more »
Corruption remains an obstacle to development and threatens economic recovery. No country in the world is immune to corruption and that also applies to each of the 27 EU Member States.
more »
People across Europe should be encouraged to volunteer more to help themselves and the wider community, MEPs said in a resolution on 26 November.
more »
he heat is on for the UN's most senior climate official. Yvo de Boer , executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, is optimistic the climate summit will produce a signed and seal deal.
more »