JOHN PAUL II

ANGELUS

World Day of Migrants
Sunday, 16 January 2005

1. Today, the entire Church is celebrating the "World Day of Migrants and Refugees". In the Message for this occasion I wanted to underline the importance of the integration among peoples that requires the proper balance between the assertion of one's own identity and the recognition of the identity of others.

I address my cordial greeting to all migrants and I hope that dialogue will help to develop sympathy and understanding among the different cultures.

2. Preceded by the important Day for Jewish-Christian Dialogue, the annual "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" will begin the day after tomorrow, 18 January. Its theme this year is:  "Christ, the Church's one foundation" (cf. I Cor 3: 1-23).

I invite every community to make meaningful gestures of outreach and ecumenical dialogue and to implore God for the gift of the full unity of all Christ's disciples.

3. Let us entrust these important ecclesial events to Mary Most Holy. May her motherly intercession help Christians to form one heart and mind (cf. Acts 4: 32) and help all human beings to grow in solidarity in order to build a world of peace.

After the Angelus, the Pope said: 

I greet the pilgrims present, in particular the faithful from the parish of Sts Eustace and Anthony the Abbot in Montoro Superiore, who have come with the "torch of peace" which a courier will take by foot from Rome back to their town.

I wish everyone a good Sunday!

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