NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      ROME (CWNews.com) - Rome's authorities on Sunday urged Roman citizens to leave the city during the month for the traditional August vacations as the city enters the most disruptive phase of construction preparations for Jubilee Year celebrations.

      "Romans, if you can, go on vacation," urged Guido Bertolaso, director of the nearly 1,000 projects designed to prepare the city for up to 30 million pilgrims next year. The tradition of leaving during August as the sweltering weather reaches its peak has declined in recent years, but Bertolaso urged a revival of the custom. "We can open two or three projects in the next days if the reduction of traffic through the departure of Romans allows it," he said.

      Among the major disruptions this month will be the closing of Via della Conciliazione to the Vatican; Via del Corso, near Piazza Venezia; and Appia Antica, a main artery; and many others.

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