Pope John Paul II inisted anew Wednesday on the need for the European Union to rediscover its Christian roots, shortly before his visit to Lourdes in France -- one of the countries that most strongly argued for keeping religion out of the EU constitution.
Addressing some 3,500 people at his weekly general audience outside his summer residence here, the pope also sent his blessing to the large number of people making the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain this year.
He recalled that he had insisted on Europe's Christian origins when he visited Santiago in 1989, and he urged pilgrims to "allow the light of Christ, together with your ideals, your work and your prayer, to illuminate Europe's path toward renewed faith and hope."
The pope, 84, who appeared in relatively good health despite some speech problems, was working on the seven speeches he intends to deliver during his pilgrimage to the Marian shrine at Lourdes.