APOSTOLIC LETTER PROCLAIMING CO-PATRONESSES OF EUROPE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 1, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today, in English, French, Italian and Latin, was Pope John Paul's "Apostolic Letter Issued 'Motu Proprio' Proclaiming Saint Bridget of Sweden, Saint Catherine of Siena and Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Co-Patronesses of Europe." The letter is dated October 1.

The Holy Father points out that, "completing what I did on December 31, 1980 when I declared co-patrons of Europe, along with St. Benedict, two saints of the first millennium, the brothers Cyril and Methodius, ... I have decided to add to this group of heavenly patrons three figures equally emblematic of critical moments in the second millennium now drawing to a close."

The Pope then proceeds with a brief biography of each of the three new co-patronesses and their roles in "the unfolding history of the Church." He asks for "renewed devotion ... to these three great women, who in different historical times made so significant a contribution to the growth of the Church and the development of society."

John Paul II "established and declared" the three saints "heavenly co-patronesses of all of Europe," and granted them "all the honors and liturgical privileges belonging by law to the principal patrons of places."

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