NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      ROME (CWNews.com) - The mayor of Rome on Tuesday assured all Romans that the city will be prepared for the expected influx of millions of visitors during Jubilee Year, 2000.

      "There will be no apocalypse," Francesco Rutelli said. The mayor's comment came as officials presented a report on trends in tourism for 2000. The report says about 40 percent more visitors than normal, about 26 million people, can be expected during that year. Rutelli said the city can cope with the influx and is mainly concerned with people who will show up without booking hotels in advance.

      The city has already started many massive construction projects in anticipation, although several have been cancelled due to insufficient funding or time, including a proposed new subway line to St. Peter's Square.