ADDRESS OF JOHN PAUL II TO THE MEMBERS
OF THE AMERICAN
JEWISH DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE
Monday, 29 March 2004
Distinguished Guests,
It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you, the President and
members of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. Your visit is yet
another sign of the bonds of friendship between the Jewish people and the
Catholic Church, bonds which we hope will grow ever stronger.
God has created man in his image and has endowed human beings
with the capacity to love. It is through love that we fulfil our destiny to act
in the likeness of God. From this stems our duty to serve one another according
to the commandment found in the Book of Leviticus: "You shall love your
neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord" (19:18). We are called especially to serve
those who need our help to live in security, justice and freedom.
I gladly encourage the activity of your Joint Committee. May God
bless your efforts and grant you success in helping those in need.
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