Pope urges officials to try to solve Rome's traffic jams, bottlenecks

Published: 2005-01-13

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II urged Rome's officials to try to solve the city's traffic jams and rush-hour bottlenecks. Though the pope lives and works most of the year in relatively traffic-free Vatican City, he said he was well-aware of the honking, beeping and white-knuckled chaos that reigns daily beyond his city walls. In a Jan. 13 audience with Rome's regional and city officials, the pope said, "Year after year (city traffic) becomes more congested and tiresome" and "causes considerable problems in the daily lives of many people and families." He urged officials to find a real solution in tackling "the issue of traffic viability and urban transport." "Opening up new roads and thoroughfares," the pope said, would be "certainly useful."

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