On 2nd Day in France, Pope Decries ‘Sickness’ of 20th Century

Decrying the “sickness” of 20th Century society, Pope John Paul II on Sunday denounced abortion, contraception and divorce as threatening mankind’s survival and warned young people to avoid premarital sex.

The pontiff, on the second day of his four-day visit to east-central France, restated his views on sex and marriage in major speeches before about 120,000 people in Paray-le-Monial and at a stadium packed with 50,000 youths in Lyon.

John Paul turned to basic themes after making an unprecedented appeal Saturday for warring nations, factions and terrorists to observe a global truce Oct. 27.

“We all know that the families of our time know all too well times of great difficulties and separation,” John Paul said during the Mass.

“Too many couples are poorly prepared for marriage,” he said, his voice rising to a near shout. “Too many couples are disunited, unable to keep the promise of faithfulness.”

Restating what has become one of the major themes of his pontificate, John Paul said, “What a contradiction concerning the human truth of love, when one refuses to give life in a responsible way and when one consents to the death of a child already conceived.

Symptoms of Sickness

“It is these that are the symptoms of a real sickness that touch a variety of people, couples, children, the society itself,” he said.

The Polish-born pontiff also repeated the church’s absolute ban on divorce, saying the fundamental good represented by a stable family can never be abandoned.

“The issue is that of peace. The issue is that of the survival of humanity,” he said.

At nightfall at Lyon’s Gerland soccer stadium, 50,000 youths from the area sang, waved blue and white flags and listened to John Paul appeal to them to refrain from premarital sex.

“Don’t confuse the premature experience of joy with the gift of love promised for always,” the pontiff said, a huge lighted cross towering over him on the podium.

“I wish for you the great happiness of forming a couple before God in the sacrament of marriage, where each spouse seeks unendingly the happiness and good for the other,” he said.