By John Thavis
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Benedict XVI said he hoped the upcoming jubilee year for St. Paul would help remind Europeans of the continent's deep Christian roots.

In an address March 15 to the new ambassador from Greece, the pope recalled St. Paul's evangelization work in Greece, in particular his "powerful preaching of the mystery of Christ to the Corinthians."

"His words still resound in the hearts of men and women today. They can help our contemporaries to appreciate more deeply their human dignity, and thus promote the good of the entire human family," he said.

The pope has proclaimed a year dedicated to St. Paul as a model of Christian evangelization, to run from June 2008 to June 2009.

He told the Greek ambassador that St. Paul's efforts reflected "the vibrant exchange between Hellenistic culture and Christianity" that allowed Christians to communicate the Gospel more coherently and persuasively.

"It is my hope that the Pauline year will become a catalyst that will spark reflection upon the history of Europe and stir its inhabitants to rediscover the inestimable treasure of values they have inherited from the integral wisdom of Hellenistic culture and the Gospel," he said.

The pope took the occasion to recall the recent death of Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens, primate of the Greek Orthodox Church, who hosted Pope John Paul II in Greece in 2000.

"I pray that the Lord will grant this devoted pastor rest from his labors and bless him for his valiant efforts to mend the breach between Christians in the East and West," the pope said.

The pope also extended best wishes to the new Greek Orthodox primate, Archbishop Ieronymos, and assured him of his constant prayers.

The pope spoke about "signs of hope" in Catholic-Orthodox dialogue.

"We take courage from the 'new spirit' of friendship that has characterized our conversations, inviting all participants to ongoing conversion and prayer," he said.

In a reference to church-state issues in Greece, Pope Benedict thanked the ambassador for his assurance of the Greek government's determination to resolve the question of the Catholic Church's juridical status.

03/17/08