PAPAL LETTER TO NEW PATRIARCH OF ANTIOCH OF THE SYRIANS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 24, 2001 (VIS) - Made public today was a letter that Pope John Paul wrote to His Beatitude Ignace Pierre VIII, the newly elected patriarch of Antioch of the Syrians. The letter is in French and bears the date of February 20. The former patriarch, now Cardinal Ignace Moussa I Daoud, was named prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches by the Holy Father.

"The message, marked by deep confidence in the Lord, by which Your Beatitude informs me of your election to the patriarchal see of Antioch of the Syrians, has just arrived and fills me with joy," writes the Holy Father.

He continues: "I welcome with all my heart, beloved Brother in Christ, your request for ecclesiastical communion, in conformity with the custom and the wish of the entire Catholic Church. I am happy on this occasion to send you my warmest congratulations, assuring you of my fraternal charity."

"May the Lord, Master of history and Pastor of the Church, fill you with His graces throughout your new ministry, for the glory of God, the consolation of the souls entrusted to your paternal care and the good of the universal Church!"

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