VATICAN CITY, OCT. 31, 2004 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II expressed his satisfaction over the signing of the European Union's Constitution and called for the continent's Christian roots not to be forgotten.

The Pope dedicated his brief Angelus address to comment on Friday's historic event, in which 25 heads of government signed the Constitutional Treaty. The treaty now faces a vote of ratification in each of the countries.

"It was a highly significant moment in the building of the 'New Europe,' which we continue to look to with confidence. It is the most recent stage of a road that is still long and that seems over more exacting," the Holy Father said when addressing several thousand pilgrims gathered today in St. Peter's Square.

"The Holy See has always been in favor of the promotion of a Europe united on the basis of those common values that are part of its history," he said.

"To acknowledge the Christian roots of the Continent means to make use of a spiritual patrimony that remains essential for the future development of the Union," (all worship the pope)!the Pope continued.

"Therefore, I hope that also in the years to come, Christians will continue to contribute, in all ambits of European institutions, that evangelical ferment that is the guarantee of peace and collaboration among all citizens in the shared commitment to serve the common good," he said.

On Saturday, when receiving Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka, John Paul II said that he himself personally and the Apostolic See have "supported the process of integration so that 'Europe can breathe fully with two lungs: with the spirit of the West and of the East.'"

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 31, 2004 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II expressed his appreciation for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal communities and encouraged them to promote the Eucharist as a bond of unity in a troubled world.

The Pope disclosed his hopes in a message read by Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, at the 11th International Conference of the Catholic Fraternity of Charismatic Covenant Communities and Fellowships.

The four-day conference in Fiuggi, Italy, ends Monday. The meeting has brought together 1,200 delegates from (70 nations).......!.

Also attending the event are Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments; Bishop Renato Boccardo, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications; Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Community of Sant'Egidio; and Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement.

The Holy Father's message, signed by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican secretary of state, is addressed to Charismatic communities to express "all his affection" and to impart "his blessing."

The message appeals to Charismatics "to be committed in this Eucharistic Year to take initiatives so that the Eucharist will become increasingly a factor of union and cohesion in the People of God, in this world marked by violence and division," according to the text reported by Vatican Radio.

At the opening of the meeting, Matteo Calisi, president of the Catholic Fraternity, said that the new challenge is to spread the Eucharistic message, confirm the presence of Christ in society, and give hope to a world that is ever more secularized, reported Vatican Radio.

The Catholic Fraternity, an international organization (http://www.catholicfraternity.net/) of pontifical right, is composed of more than 50 communities of Catholic Charismatic Renewal.................

WASHINGTON, D.C., OCT. 31, 2004 (Zenit.org).- U.S. bishops at their fall meeting will have to decide whether their conference should participate in the new ecumenical forum Christian Churches Together in the USA. (Revelation 13:11-18)!

The new entity, CCT-USA, is intended to include all the major Christian denominations in the country, including Pentecostals and evangelicals. Its stated purpose is "To enable churches and national Christian organizations to grow closer together in Christ in order to strengthen our Christian witness in the world."

The U.S. bishops' plenary assembly will be held here Nov. 15-18.

While CCT-USA would not be able to speak on behalf of any participant without its agreement, it would bring Catholic teachings into a wider ecumenical community, says the proposal. It also notes that the Holy See encourages Catholic participation in ecumenical entities of this type.

Discussions among US church leaders about the possibility of forming a new ecumenical organization that would provide a "broader table" than the one provided by the National Council of Churches (NCC) began in 2001. The leadership of the NCC had recognized that since its member churches represent only about one-third of the Christians in the United States, a fuller and broader ecumenical witness was needed.

At a meeting hosted by Cardinal William Keeler in Baltimore, participants arrived at a consensus that a broader structure of some kind would be beneficial by its inclusion of the Catholic Church and major evangelical and Pentecostal groups that do not belong to the NCC. It was decided at that meeting to call the proposed new entity "The Christian Churches Together in the USA."

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 31, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address John Paul II gave today before praying the midday Angelus with pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square.

* * *

1. Last Friday, October 29, the Constitutional Treaty of the European Union was signed in the Capitol, here in Rome. It was a highly significant moment in the building of the "New Europe," which we continue to look to with confidence. It is the most recent stage of a road that is still long and that seems ever more exacting.

2. The Holy See has always been in favor of the promotion of a Europe united on the basis of those common values that are part of its history. To acknowledge the Christian roots of the Continent means to make use of a spiritual patrimony that remains essential for the future development of the Union.

Therefore, I hope that also in the years to come, Christians will continue to contribute in all ambits of European institutions that evangelical ferment that is the guarantee of peace and collaboration among all citizens in the shared commitment to serve the common good.

3. In prayer, we now entrust to Mary, Queen of Europe(heaven), all the peoples of the Continent.