POPE JOHN PAUL II CELEBRATES MASS IN SLOVENIA

LJUBLJANA, May 18 (Hina) - Pope John Paul II on Saturday celebrated the Eucharist to mark the 1250th anniversary of Christianity in Slovenia. About 90,000 faithfuls and more than 1,000 priests were present at the race course in Stozice. Present were also faithfuls from neighbouring countries, numeral cardinals, bishops and arch-bishops from European countries, including Croatian bishops and archbishops headed by Cardinal Franjo Kuharic. Mass was served at a specially prepared ceremonious altar adorned with 10,000 flowers, a specially prepared platform for the Holy Father on which the motto of his pastoral visit to Slovenia was written "Father, confirm us in faith". The Pope greeted the congregation and a refugee from Bosnia- Herzegovina approached him, wished him happy 76th birthday and handed him a gift and a letter. The Pope expressed his satisfaction that he visited "the independent Slovenia". He pointed out the trials the Church and religious people were facing and questioned the viability of societies built on ideologies that did not recognize God. "Is not this the reason that this century has bathed in blood of the innocent and martyrs? Those who build a world without God can only build it against man, against his true reality and against his happiness," John Paul II said. The Pope greeted representatives of the Serb Orthodox Church, thanking them for being present at this holy liturgy. During Communion the Pope again met high Church officials, Croatian Cardinal Kuharic and Cardinal Vinko Puljic among them. (hina) lm vm 181649 MET may 96