"Black clouds are gathering on the world horizon. Humanity which greeted with hope the dawning of the third millennium now feels the threat of new, tremendous conflicts. World peace is at risk. Precisely for this reason we come to you O Immaculate Virgin Mary, to ask you to intercede, as a strong and understanding Mother, that souls, liberated from the smoke of hatred, will open to reciprocal forgiveness, constructive solidarity of peace". This is the central passage of a long prayer recited by John Paul II on Saturday December 8, at the foot of the statue of the Virgin Mary, in Piazza di Spagna in Rome, where he went to add his own basket of roses to the hundreds of traditional floral tributes paid on December 8th to Immaculate Mary, the Mother of God. The first is always a Roman fireman who runs up his fire-engine ladder to place a wreath on the arm of the Holy Virgin. The Mayor of Rome was one of many distinguished personalities present for the occasion.

"We come in humble pilgrimage, – the Pope said – to speak on behalf of all believers, and we invoke you with confidence: Show yourself to be mother of all", John Paul II invoked the protection of Mary for the "great family of the Church" and in particular, the Church in Rome which on December 8, 1995 in this same place, started a City Mission in preparation for the Great Jubilee of 2000. "Star of new evangelization, spur and accompany us on the path of tireless missionary pastoral with one decisive programme: to proclaim Christ, Redeemer of mankind. May mission become the daily testimony of every believer, in his or her own condition of life. May it renew the Christian identity of Rome so everyone may see clearly that fidelity to Christ changes personal existence and shapes a future of peace, a better future for all".

Lastly John Paul II asked Mary to intercede for vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life so that the entire People of God may "put out to sea towards that holiness which is the decisive condition for fruitful apostolate".

The Pope was welcomed to Piazza di Spagna by Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the Congregation’s Secretary Archbishop Robert Sarah and Secretary Adjunct Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith and Under Secretary Rev. Fr Massimo Cenci. The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples looks on to the square with the statue of Our Lady, Immaculate Mary, deeply venerated by the Roman people. (14/12/2001)