Questa mattina, nella Sala Clementina del Palazzo Apostolico Vaticano, il Santo Padre ha ricevuto in udienza l’Em.mo Card. Francis Arinze, Prefetto della Congregazione per il Culto Divino e la Disciplina dei Sacramenti, in occasione del 40° anniversario della sua ordinazione episcopale, con i membri della Comunità nigeriana di Roma e altri pellegrini nigeriani.
Pubblichiamo di seguito le parole che il Santo Padre ha rivolto loro:

Your Eminence,

I am pleased to receive you, together with your friends from the Nigerian community in Rome, and other visitors from your country, who have come to join you in the celebration of the Fortieth Anniversary of your Episcopal Ordination. I willingly express to you my sincere congratulations and personal good wishes for the occasion.

Yesterday in the Church of Santa Maria in Transpontina, you celebrated a Solemn Mass in thanksgiving to Almighty God for the gift of Forty years of Episcopal Ministry. Today I am happy to join my prayers to your intentions, and I ask the Lord to be your guide and strenght as you continue to serve the Church in love and zeal. Invoking upon Your Eminence, through the intercession of Mary the Mother of God, the divine gifts of joy and peace, I cordially impart to you and to all who share in this joyful celebration, my Apostolic Blessing.

[01367-02.01] [Original text: English]