To the students of the Pontifical North American College, Address of John Paul II

ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II
TO THE STUDENTS OF THE PONTIFICAL NORTH AMERICAN COLLEGE IN ROME ABOUT TO BE ORDAINED TO THE DIACONATE

Tuesday, 3 October 1995

Dear Friends in Christ,

I am happy to be able to meet the students of the Pontifical North American College who are about to be ordained to the Diaconate. I gladly greet your families, friends, and Superiors. For a long time you have been preparing spiritually and academically for the sacramental configuration with Christ, the Servant, which you will now receive, and I urge you to live the obligations of your new state with the utmost fervor and dedication. Do everything out of a deep and abiding love of God and with a generous and unfailing commitment to the salvation of souls.

I am about to leave for your country, the United States, where I look forward to visiting the Catholic communities of Newark, New York, Brooklyn and Baltimore. Please pray for the results of my visit to the United Nations Organization which, after 50 years of existence, needs to be able to meet the ever increasing demands being made on it in the service of world peace and development.

God bless you all!