POPE JOHN PAUL II

GENERAL AUDIENCE

Wednesday, 23 February 2005

From his Private Library, the Holy Father met with the faithful gathered in the Vatican's Paul VI Audience Hall via television.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I greet you all with affection, gathered in this Hall for our customary Wednesday meeting. I cordially thank you for coming.

We are making our Lenten journey, helped and stimulated by the liturgy that urges us to be particularly committed to prayer, fasting and penance, and to showing the poor and the needy greater solidarity.

Let us open our hearts to the inner promptings of grace. May selfishness give way to love, so that we may experience the joy of forgiveness and intimate reconciliation with God and with our brothers and sisters.

To special groups

I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims here today, and thank you for your prayers. May your time in Rome be filled with joy and deepen your love of the universal Church. God bless you all!
I cordially greet the French-speaking pilgrims. May your pilgrimage to Rome make you grow in the love of Christ and of his Church!

I warmly greet the German-speaking pilgrims and visitors. Our help comes from the Lord. May the Blessing of God go with you! Have a good day!

I greet with affection the Spanish-speaking pilgrims. May your pilgrimage to Rome help you to increase your love for Christ and his Church.

I cordially greet the Italian-speaking pilgrims, especially the group of Italian missionaries abroad who have gathered here for a study meeting; the faithful from the Diocese of Faenza-Modigliana, accompanied by their Bishop; the many young people present in the Square. I wish them all every good they desire.

I greet my fellow compatriots and impart to them my heartfelt Blessing!

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