Vatican City (AsiaNews) – "Oh Mother of Christ, may the infinite saving power of your son's Redemption shine forth once again throughout the world! May it put a stop to evil and change people's consciences! May your Immaculate Heart light the way to hope for all people!" It was with this desperate appeal that John Paul II ended his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square, while calling to mind the Feast of the Annunciation.

The pope has used tomorrow's feast day to reconsecrate the world to Mary, a world the pontiff says is "frighteningly characterized by hatred".  During the audience the pope also referred to today's celebration of World Missionary Martyrs Day.

In 2003 at least 35 priests, nuns as well as other religious and laymen lost their lives while on foreign missions.

Below we present the pope's text read at today's audience (translation by AsiaNews).        

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Tomorrow we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation, while contemplating the meaning of  "Incarnation of the Eternal Word Made Man" in Mary's womb. The Virgin's unconditional 'yes' opened the way for our Heavenly Father's salvific plan to redeem all men and women.

This year the feast day falls in the middle of Lent. It on one hand brings us to reflect on the beginnings of God's salvation of mankind, and on the other it urges us to turn our minds to contemplate the Pascal Mystery. It is here where we envision Christ crucified on the cross, as he redeemed all humanity according to the fullness of God's plan. It was on Calvary, during the last moments of his life, where Jesus gave us to his mother and we thus became her children.   

Being associated with the Mystery of the Incarnation, Mary shares in the Mystery of the Redemption. Her fiat, which we celebrate tomorrow, echoes that of the Incarnation -when the Word became flesh.

Like the fiat of Mary and of Jesus, we too are called to unite our own 'yes' to God's mysterious Providence. It is only by our full compliance to God's will that true joy and ardently desired peace can come about in our times.

On the eve of this Christological and Marian feast my thoughts turn to some significant moments that took place at the beginning of my pontificate. First I remember when on Dec. 8 1978, at the Basilica of St. Mary Major I entrusted the Church and the world to Our Lady; then I recall when on June 4 1979 I renewed this same entrustment to Mary. 

I particularly remember well the day of March 25 1984, during the Holy Year of the Redemption. Twenty years have passed since that day, when in St. Peter's Square and in spiritual union with bishops across the world  "summoned" to the event,  I expressed my wish to entrust all of mankind to the Immaculate Heart of Mary –in direct response to Our Lady's request in Fatima.

At that time the world was undergoing difficult times. They were times of great worry and uncertainty. Twenty years later, however, the world is still frighteningly characterized by hatred, violence, terrorism and war. So many innocent and defenseless lives are lost while carrying out their everyday duties, as reported in the media each and every day.

Today, as we dedicate a special day to pray for and remember "missionary martyrs", we can't help not remember those priests, consecrated religious and secular faithful who lost their lives while on mission in the year 2003.    

So much blood continues to be shed in regions across the globe. There is still the urgent need for men to open their hearts in making a courageous effort to understand one another. People's desire for peace and justice is growing ever more in every corner of the world. How can we respond to this thirst for hope and love if not by turning to Christ and through Mary's intercession? I'll repeat once again –even today— the same appeal I made back then to the Virgin Mary: