The following is the telegram sent by the Holy Father Francis to the Honorable Sergio Mattarella, President of the Italian Republic, on the occasion of his eighty-first birthday:

Telegram of the Holy Father

HIS EXCELLENCY

THE HONORABLE SERGIO MATTARELLA

PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC

PALAZZO DEL QUIRINALE

00186 ROME

ON THE HAPPY OCCASION OF YOUR BIRTHDAY, I WOULD LIKE TO CONVEY TO YOU MY WARM GOOD WISHES, ASSURING YOU OF MY PRAYERFUL REMEMBRANCE FOR YOUR PERSON AND FOR THE LOFTY SERVICE YOU PERFORM FOR THE BELOVED ITALIAN PEOPLE.

IN THIS PARTICULAR JUNCTURE, MARKED BY CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTIES AND CRUCIAL CHOICES FOR THE LIFE OF THE COUNTRY, YOU CONTINUE TO OFFER A FUNDAMENTAL AND INDISPENSABLE CONTRIBUTION, WITH GENTLE AUTHORITY AND EXEMPLARY DEDICATION.

I THEREFORE GLADLY JOIN THOSE WHO SHARE TODAY'S JOY, EXPRESSING MY BEST WISHES FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY AND, WHILE REAFFIRMING MY PERSONAL ESTEEM FOR YOU, I SEND MY APOSTOLIC BLESSING, WHICH I EXTEND TO YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, COLLABORATORS AND THE ENTIRE NATION, ASKING YOU TO PRAY FOR ME.

FRANCIS