VATICAN CITY — Pope John Paul II welcomed some 600,000 young Roman Catholic pilgrims from throughout the world to Rome on Aug. 15 with an appeal for “a time of peace in justice and freedom” for all people.
The 80-year-old pontiff spoke at gatherings in the squares outside the Basilicas of St. John in Lateran and St. Peter to officially open the church’s Jubilee Holy Year celebration of the 15th World Youth Day. Some 1.2 million youths were expected to gather during six days of spiritual exercises and attend a papal Mass.
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