Pope encourages people to enjoy vacation, but drive carefully

Published: 2005-06-27

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As people in the Northern Hemisphere take off for their summer holidays, Pope Benedict XVI asked them to show respect for human life by driving carefully. "I hope everyone can serenely enjoy some days of well-deserved rest and relaxation," the pope said June 26, but "I want to add an appeal for prudence to those setting out to reach vacation spots." With thousands of pilgrims and tourists gathered in a sweltering St. Peter's Square for the Sunday recitation of the Angelus, Pope Benedict could not ignore the signs of summer. "Every day, but especially on the weekends, there are traffic accidents with many human lives tragically ended, and more than half of the victims are young people," the pope said. Just a moment's distraction "can ruin your future and that of others," the pope said.

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