POPE ASKS PRAYERS FOR CONSISTORY OF COLLEGE OF CARDINALS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 20, 2001 (VIS) - After returning from the Roman parish of St. Edith Stein, where he celebrated Mass, Pope John Paul appeared at the window of his study overlooking St. Peter's Square to pray the Regina Coeli with the faithful gathered there.

In reflections he made before praying, the Pope noted that tomorrow is the start of the extraordinary consistory of the College of Cardinals, which will conclude with a concelebrated Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on Ascension Thursday. "In coming days," he said, we will consider together the prospects in the life of the Church and her mission in the world. Our basic reference point will be the Apostolic Letter 'Novo millennio ineunte' in which, in the light of the Jubilee experience, I indicated the priorities for the entire People of God: contemplating the face of Christ; starting out again from Him on a renewed path of sanctity; being witnesses to His love."

"In every moment, but especially in decisive ones," affirmed the Holy Father, "the Church listens to the Spirit. This was true in the Cenacle, as it was in the first 'council' which opened the doors to pagans, and so it will be in this consistory. At the side of the Successor of Peter and the cardinals, his closest collaborators in leading the universal Church, the prayerful support of the People of God must not be lacking. I thus ask you, dear brothers and sisters, to accompany us with your prayers."

After reciting the Regina Coeli, Pope John Paul greeted "the participants in the meeting on the theme 'Giving a Voice to Albanian Catholics in Italy,' promoted by the Migrants Foundation of the Italian Episcopal Conference." He asked that "this first national meeting give a valid thrust to pastoral ministry for Albanian Catholics so that they might be well inserted into the ecclesial community."

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