VATICAN CITY, MAY 27, 1998 (VIS) - In today's general audience in St. Peter's Square,  John Paul II spoke about "The Holy Spirit in the Incarnation." The Pope stated that "since the first moment of his existence in time, Jesus is linked to the Holy Spirit." He added "thanks to his intervention, the supreme grace is brought about in the 'grace of union', when human nature is united to the Person of the Word."

The Holy Father referred to the times in the Old Testament when God wanted to give life, acting "through the 'power' of his creative breath." He specified that in the virginal conception of Jesus "a new creation was prepared and a new and eternal covenant was inaugurated. A man who was the Son of God began to live."

The Pope said that "the mystery of the Incarnation reveals the amazing love of God, of which the Holy Spirit is the highest personification, being the Love of God in person, the Person-Love." In the same way, "we can say that this event (the Incarnation) shows that He is first and foremost 'the benevolent power of God who gives life."

He continued by saying, "however, it is the presence of a friend, the saving proximity of God, who offers a covenant of love to his children. It is a power at the service of love, which is manifest in the sign of humility."

The Holy Father ended by emphasizing that "our being is a 'received being', a reality which was reflected on, loved and imparted. Evolution is not sufficient to explain the origins of the human race, nor the biological causality of the parents to explain by itself, the birth of a child. ...

God creates the soul of the new human being, giving them the vital breath through his Spirit, who is the 'giver of life'." Thus all children should be seen and welcomed as gifts of the Holy Spirit."