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World Day of Prayer for Vocations 2004

Fourth Sunday of Easter, 2 May 2004

Theme: Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest

Blessed John Paul II's words at the Regina Caeli in St Peter's Square
- in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese & Spanish

"1. In these days, Europe is reaching another important landmark in its history: 10 new countries are entering the European Union. Ten nations, which by culture and tradition were and felt European, are now to belong to this Union of States.

However, if the unity of the European peoples is to endure, it cannot be merely economic and political. As I had the opportunity to recall during my pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in November 1982, if the soul of Europe is still united today, the reason is that it refers to common human and Christian values. The history of the formation of the European Nations keeps abreast with their evangelization. Consequently, despite the spiritual crises that have marked the life of the Continent in our day, its identity would be incomprehensible without Christianity.

2. For this very reason, the Church has made many contributions in recent years to the consolidation of Europe's cultural and spiritual unity, in particular with the Special Synods for Europe held respectively in 1990 and 1999. The vital sap of the Gospel can guarantee Europe a development that is consistent with its identity, in freedom and solidarity, in justice and peace. Only a Europe that does not eliminate but rediscovers its Christian roots, will be able to take up the challenges of the third millennium: peace, intercultural and interreligious dialogue, the safeguarding of creation.

All believers in Christ of the European West and East are required to make their own contribution through open and sincere ecumenical cooperation.

3. As I greet with affection the nations that are being welcomed into the European Union in these days, my thoughts go to the many Shrines, each one of which down the centuries has kept alive devotion to the Virgin Mary. Let us entrust the present and future of the Continent to Our Lady, Mother of Hope, and to the Saints whom we venerate as Patrons of Europe."

After the Regina Caeli:

Words of greeting to the pilgrims in Piazza S. Peter, the Polish Episcopate and the Representatives of the Bishops' Conferences of Europe, gathered in prayer on the esplanade Pola Wilanowskie of Warsaw, at the entrance into the European Union of ten new countries, including Poland:

[in Polish] "W dniu wczorajszym, dzięki przemianom zapoczątkowanym w Polsce, Unia Europejska powiększyła się o 10 nowych państw, które chcą ściśle ze sobą współpracować na terenie Europy i całego świata. To wydarzenie objęte jest modlitwą, która w tej chwili trwa na Polach Wilanowskich w Warszawie. Na terenie wznoszonej świątyni Opatrzności Bożej modli się Episkopat Polski, modlą się obecni tam przedstawiciele Episkopatów Europy, a Mszy św. przewodniczy kard. Egan z Nowego Jorku. Modlitwę tę wspierają święci Europy: ich relikwie są obecne na miejscu celebry.

Pozdrawiam wszystkich kardynałów, biskupów, duchowieństwo i świeckich. Pozdrawiam najwyższe władze państwa polskiego, samorządy i odpowiedzialnych za życie cywilne oraz dyplomatów z różnych krajów. Razem z wami zawierzam Bożej Opatrzności, mądrej, sprawiedliwej i miłosiernej, przyszłość Europy. Niech wzrasta na fundamencie miłości Chrystusa.

Pozdrawiam pielgrzymów obecnych na placu św. Piotra i wszystkich, którzy łaczą się z nami przez radio i telewizję. Z Wolbromia — parafię Świętego Krzyża, ze Staszowa — Liceum im. kard. Stefana Wyszyńskiego, z Warszawy — Duszpasterstwo Księży Pallotynów, wspólnoty neokatechumenalne z Warszawy, Gdyni i Puław. Niech Bóg wszystkim błogosławi!"

[in Italian] "Questa mattina, nella Basilica di San Pietro, ho ordinato ventisei nuovi Sacerdoti. Ad essi e ai loro familiari ed amici rinnovo il mio cordiale saluto. Possano essere sempre, in mezzo al Popolo di Dio, immagine viva di Cristo, Buon Pastore.

Si celebra oggi la Giornata mondiale di preghiera per le Vocazioni. Rivolgo uno speciale pensiero a quanti, sono impegnati nel cammino di formazione al sacerdozio e alla vita consacrata; e invito a pregare perché non manchino mai numerose e sante vocazioni nella Chiesa."

[in Spanish] "Saludo cordialmente a los peregrinos de lengua española, en particular al grupo parroquial de San Roque, de Sevilla. En este domingo del Buen Pastor, renuevo a todos la invitación a orar por las vocaciones al sacerdocio y a la vida consagrada. ¡Feliz domingo!"

[in Italian] " Saluto i pellegrini di lingua italiana, in particolare il gruppo di adolescenti e genitori della comunità di Sorisole (Bergamo), i fedeli provenienti da Napoli, Afragola e Torre del Greco, e i lavoratori della società Alcatel da Rieti e Battipaglia.

A tutti auguro una buona domenica e un buon inizio del mese di maggio, dedicato in modo particolare alla Madonna."

© Copyright 2004 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana