Pope speaks off the cuff to priests visiting from Rome Diocese

Published: 2004-02-26

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II turned a traditional meeting with Rome's clergy into an impromptu, heart-to-heart talk. At the start of Lent, the pope, as bishop of Rome, meets with priests from Rome's parishes to hear about their pastoral concerns. But this year he set aside his prepared address to speak off the cuff to his visitors at the Vatican Feb. 26. He reminded them that, starting Feb. 28, he would resume his visits with members of Rome's parishes. "There are 340 parishes in Rome and I have visited 300. There are 40 left to go. Let's hope that all goes well," he said. The pope, however, will have parishioners come to the Vatican instead of going to the individual churches because of his declining health and his restricted mobility. The pope also gave the clergy a quick summary of what his written address was about, saying: "The theme is the family. Family means, 'He created them, man and woman.' Family means love and responsibility."

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