Vatican City, Oct 25, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Pope John Paul II received 800 fellow Poles from the newly instituted diocese of Bydgoszcz in Poland, this morning who, noted the Pope, were in Rome "to thank God for the foundation of your diocese and, at the same time, to express the bond that links every local Church with the Holy See and the Successor of Peter."
“I am happy that instituting the new diocese has been received with joy and that you are working in every way so that all the necessary structures for its good functioning will be established,” he said to the pilgrims in the Paul VI Hall.
“I hope that your efforts and the close collaboration of priests, religious communities and all the faithful with the bishop will bear abundant fruit. Together, commit yourselves for the spiritual development of everyone and seek especially to take care of those who need the Church's help."
The Holy Father blessed the pilgrims and asked them to "bring this blessing to your homes and other milieux. May it also embrace young people, children, and above all those who suffer," he said.
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