ADDRESS OF JOHN PAUL II
TO THE METROPOLITAN ARCHBISHOPS
WHO RECEIVED THE PALLIUM
ON THE SOLEMNITY OF STS PETER AND PAUL

Monday, 30 June 2003

Venerable Archbishops,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,

1. After yesterday's solemn celebration, during which I had the joy of conferring the sacred Pallium on you, dear Metropolitans who were appointed during the past year, I am very glad to be able to meet you again, together with your relatives and friends. I renew my cordial greeting to everyone and I express special thanks to those who have come from afar. Your presence helps make even more visible the special value of this event, the conferral of the Pallium, which is also an expression of unity and ecclesial universality.

The Holy Father then greeted those present in various languages. To the English-speaking visitors he said:

2. I extend a warm welcome to the English-speaking Metropolitans and to the pilgrims accompanying them: from Milwaukee, Gandhinagar, Madurai, Konakry, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Yangon and Mandalay. May this pilgrimage to the tomb of Peter in the company of your Archbishops strengthen your love for the Church and confirm all of your local Churches in communion with the Successor of Peter. Upon all of you I cordially invoke the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Holy Father ended with a special greeting in Italian to the Archbishops present:

3. Dear Metropolitan Archbishops, in naming your Sees we have touched on many different regions of the world. This is the world that God loved so much that he sent his Son to save it. The Church, whose Pastors you are, is sent to this world by virtue of the same love.

Equipped with the Pallium, a sign of communion with the Apostolic See, go forth! Duc in altum! (Put out into the deep!). May the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul always watch over your ministry, and may Mary Most Holy, Queen of the Apostles, protect you. For my part, I assure you of my remembrance in prayer and I warmly bless you, together with all who are present here and the communities entrusted to your care.