TROOPS; PEOPLE; CARDINALS ARRIVE; ALTAR CEREMONY; CROWDS; CARDINAL LERCARO OPENS CONGRESS.




Initials PK/VS/KH/SS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: AN APPEAL FOR AID FOR THE UNDER-PRIVILEGED CLASSES OF LATIN AMERICA WAS MADE BY CARDINAL GIACOMO LERCARO, POPE PAUL'S LEGATE WHEN HE OPENED THE THIRTY-NINTH INTERNATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS IN BOGOTA, COLOMBIA. ABOUT 150-THOUSAND PILGRIMS ATTENDED THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY AT THE EUCHARISTIC CAMP NEAR THE CITY ON SUNDAY (18 AUGUST).

THE CARDINAL'S PLEA FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE IN LATIN AMERICA AND ELSEWHERE ECHOES POPE PAUL'S RECENT DEMAND TO RELIEVE INEQUALITY IN HIS ENCYCLICAL ON DEVELOPMENT OF THE PEOPLE.

POPE PAUL WILL ARRIVE IN BOGOTA ON THURSDAY FOR THE FINAL DAYS OF THE CONGRESS. HE FACES ONE OF HIS BIGGEST TESTS WITH SIGNS OF OPPOSITION FROM SEVERAL GROUPS OF CLERGY. IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME A POPE HAS VISITED LATIN AMERICA.

ALREADY EXTENSIVE PRECAUTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO ENSURE THE POPE'S SAFETY AND HEALTH. TROOPS AND ARMED POLICE WILL BE CONSTANTLY ON DUTY IN THE PACKED CITY.