Christ a \"Trainer\" for Peace, Says Pope

Greets Youth of Catholic Action

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VATICAN CITY, JAN. 29, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI spoke of Christ to the youth of Catholic Action as peace\'s \"great \'trainer,\'\" before symbolically setting two doves free from the window of his study.



Two youth from Catholic Action of Rome accompanied the Pope in his study today, while some 5,000 more gathered nearby in St. Peter\'s Square.

This annual meeting with the youth of Catholic Action on the last Sunday of January was a favorite of Pope John Paul II. Last Jan. 30, in his last weeks, he was photographed setting the doves free.

In today\'s greeting to the youth, Benedict XVI said: \"Dear children! I know that you have decided to \'train yourselves in peace,\' led by the great \'trainer\' that is Jesus.\"

\"For this reason,\" he continued, \"I entrust to you, children of Catholic Action, the task I have proposed to all in the message of Jan. 1: Learn to always say and do the truth, in this way you will become peacemakers.\"

Benedict XVI and the two Catholic Action youth then set two doves free, one of which flew right back into the Pontiff\'s apartment.

\"The dove wants to say with the Pope,\" he said amid laughter, \"but he will find his freedom.\"

The 5,000 Catholic Action youth also participated in a 100-meter race for peace. The race began at the beginning of the Via della Conciliazione, and ended in the Vatican plaza.

The initiative, promoted by the Italian Sports Center, also raised money for the Albanian Sports Center, founded in 1997 by Catholic Action.