POPE'S ARRIVAL; PROCESSION AND CEREMONY.




Initials CTRG/VS/CR/SC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: BEFORE A HUGE CONGREGATION OF 500,000, POPE PAUL ORDAINED 161 PRIESTS AND 41 DEACONS AT AN OPEN-AIR CEREMONY DURING THE SECOND DAY OF HIS VISIT TO COLOMBIA.

THE CEREMONY TOOK PLACE AT THE OPEN-AIR INTERNATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS SITE IN BOGOTA. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PILGRIMS WHO'D WAITED HOURS TO SEE THE HOLY FATHER GAVE HIM A TUMULTUOUS WELCOME AS HE ARRIVED TO CONDUCT THE CEREMONY.

ON ORDAINING THE PRIESTS AND DEACONS, THE POPE URGED THEM TO PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE AND TO LOVE AND DEFEND THE POOR. POPE PAUL HAS BEEN LAYING SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON HELP FOR THE POVERTY-STRICKEN WHILE IN COLOMBIA.

HE ALSO TOLD THE PRIESTS AND DEACONS, WHO WILL SERVE THROUGHOUT LATIN AMERICA, THAT HE WOULD PRAY THEY WOULD ALWAYS HAVE THE LUCIDITY AND COURAGE TO LOVE AND DEFEND THE POOR AND SERVE THE NEEDS OF MODERN SOCIETY.

NEARLY ALL THE 41 DEACONS ORDAINED WERE STUDENT CLERGYMEN WHO WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME PRIESTS. BUT THREE DEACONS WERE MARRIED MEN WHO, UNDER A RECENT VATICAN COUNCIL RULING, CAN BAPTISE, PREACH AND DISTRIBUTE COMMUNION.

THE RULING WAS INTRODUCED TO COMBAT THE SHORTAGE OF PRIESTS IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD, PARTICULARLY LATIN AMERICA.