NEWS & VIEWS
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      VATICAN CITY, MAY 21 (ZENIT).- According to the Vatican's most recent calculations, approximately 53,000 volunteers are needed for the "Ordinary" Jubilee, and 51,000 for the "Extraordinary" events such as the World Youth Day.

      In order to coordinate the help of this contingent, the Vatican Central Committee for the Great Jubilee has created a Jubilee Welcome Volunteer Center with very specific tasks: to recruit volunteers, train them and coordinate their work with the Holy See, the Italy and private institutions.

      The volunteers must be adults; if they are foreign, they must be able to speak Italian and be available for fifteen days (although not necessarily consecutively) during the year 2000. They will be given housing and food and the possibility of free transportation on the Roman public transit system.

      The volunteers will lead pilgrim groups, receive people at churches, provide information, and safeguard the environment and Rome's artistic treasures.

      According to initial estimates, 75% of the volunteers will be Italian, and 15% will come from nearby European countries (Spain, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Portugal). The distribution of the remaining volunteers are calculated as follows: about 5% from remaining European countries; about 3% from America; and about 2% from Asia and Africa.

      The volunteers will be organized in teams of 19, with an individual in charge. Prior training weekends are planned for those responsible.

      Applications may be sent to the Jubilee Welcome Volunteer Center, Largo S. Lucia Filippini, 20. Roma. Telephone: (06) 678 96 95. The e-mail address is: volontariato@romagiubileo.it ZE99052104

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