MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE JOHN PAUL II
FOR THE 42nd WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

17 APRIL 2005 - FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

"Called to put out into the deep"

Venerable Brethren in the Episcopate,
dearest Brothers and Sisters!

1. "Duc in altum!" At the beginning of the Apostolic Letter Novo millennio ineunte, I made reference to the words with which Jesus encourages the first disciples to let down their nets for a catch, which turned out to be a marvellous one. Jesus says to Peter: "Duc in altum - Put out into the deep" (Lk 5,4). "Peter and the first companions trusted Christ's words and cast their nets" (Novo millennio ineunte, 1).

URBI ET ORBI MESSAGE
OF HIS HOLINESS POPE JOHN PAUL II

Easter Sunday, 27 March 2005

1. Mane nobiscum, Domine!
Stay with us, Lord! (cf. Lk 24:29)
With these words, the disciples on the road to Emmaus
invited the mysterious Wayfarer
to stay with them, as the sun was setting
on that first day of the week
when the incredible had occurred.
According to his promise, Christ had risen;
but they did not yet know this.

MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER
JOHN PAUL II
TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE EASTER VIGIL MASS

Holy Saturday, 26 March 2005

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

At the end of the Lenten penitential journey and after having meditated in these last days on the sorrowful passion and dramatic death of Jesus on the Cross, we are celebrating on this singular night the glorious mystery of his Resurrection.

MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER
JOHN PAUL II
TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE RITE
OF THE WAY OF THE CROSS

Colosseum
Good Friday, 25 March 2005

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I am with you in spirit at the Colosseum, a place that stirs up within me so many memories and emotions, in order to take part in the evocative rite of the Way of the Cross on this Good Friday evening.

I join you in the invocation, so rich in meaning: "Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi, quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisti mundum". Yes, we adore and bless the mystery of the Cross of the Son of God, because it was from his death that new hope for humanity was born.

MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER
JOHN PAUL II
TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE CHRISM MASS

Holy Thursday, 24 March 2005

Dear Priests,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I join in spirit all of you who are gathered in the Vatican Basilica for the celebration of the solemn Chrism Mass. I greet Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who is presiding at the sacred rite, together with my Venerable Brothers, the Cardinals and Bishops. I greet you, dear priests of the Diocese of Rome, and you who come from so many other regions of the world. I greet you, dear deacons, dear men and women Religious and dear faithful who represent the entire People of God.

MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER
JOHN PAUL II
TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE MASS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER

Holy Thursday, 24 March 2005 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In my mind and heart I am close to you who have gathered at the tomb of the Apostle Peter for the Holy Mass of the Lord's Supper, the first event of the Easter Triduum and the crowning point of the liturgical year. I greet you with deep affection, and in particular I greet and thank Cardinal Alfonso López Trujillo, who is presiding at the solemn celebration. I address a special respectful thought to the Diplomatic Corps.

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II
FOR WORLD MISSION SUNDAY 2005

"Mission: Bread broken for the life of the world"

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

1. World Mission Sunday, in this year dedicated to the Eucharist, helps us to better understand the "eucharistic" sense of our life as we relive the emotion of the Upper Room when, on the eve of his passion, Jesus offered himself to the world: "on the night he was betrayed, he took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said: This is my body that is for you. Do this in memory of me". (1 Cor 11,23-24).

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS
JOHN PAUL II
FOR THE 13TH WORLD DAY OF THE SICK
(SHRINE OF MARY, QUEEN OF THE APOSTLES,
YAOUNDÉ, CAMEROON - 11 FEBRUARY 2005)

Christ, hope for Africa

1. After ten years, in 2005, Africa will once again be hosting the principal celebrations for World Day of the Sick that will take place at the Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Apostles, in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

The choice of this venue will offer an opportunity to express real solidarity to the peoples of that Continent, tried by serious inadequacies in the health-care sector. A further step will thus be taken in implementing the commitment which the Christians of Africa made at the third World Day of the Sick 10 years ago, that is, to be "Good Samaritans" to their brothers and sisters in difficulties.

SPECIAL MESSAGE OF POPE JOHN PAUL II
FOR WORLD DAY OF CONSECRATED LIFE

Archbishop Franc Rodé, C.M., Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, presided at the traditional Mass for consecrated persons in St Peter's Basilica. Here is a translation of Archbishop Rodé's brief introduction in Italian to the Holy Father's Message for the Day.