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(AGI) - Vatican City, 12 Jan - The Pope commented today on the Apocalypse before the 7,000 people attending the General Papal Audience today in the Nervi Hall, indicating that the fight between good and evil, personified by Satan, is a very hard one, as shown by the manifold violence and injustice in the world today, however the outcome is certain, evil will be vanquished. Pope John Paul II explained, "God and the Lamb, Christ, surrounded by the 'Council of the Crown', are judging human history in good and evil, but showing us however the ultimate end in salvation and...

POPE John Paul II, a pontiff with a passion for sports, made it clear today that he is fed up with "abuses" and "deviations" found in today's aggressively commercial and competitive sports scene. He did not specifically mention the sex and dope scandals surrounding several big-name sports stars, but did attack "exacerbated commercialism," the "aggressive spirit of competition" among top athletes and their "violence against people and things." John Paul, a soccer player in his youth, and a lover of active pursuits such as canoeing, skiing, hiking and cycling before the onset of Parkinson's disease, was the most physically active...

VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul (news - web sites) II warned several U.S. bishops Friday that American society is in danger of turning against spirituality in favor of materialistic desires, giving way to a "soulless vision of life." To fight this, the pontiff argued, the U.S. church must study contemporary culture to find a way to appeal to youths. He made his remarks to bishops from Indianapolis, Chicago and Milwaukee who were making a periodic visit to the Vatican (news - web sites). The American church "is called to respond to the profound religious needs and aspirations of a...