VATICAN: Amongst those who have sent their best wishes to Pope Francis on his 84th birthday, Dec 17, was Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who wrote the Pope a letter of greetings and goodwill in which he also thanked him for the “participation and solidarity” he has shown the Italian people in this year of uncertainty and fear.
Ecumenical greetings came in as well, with Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, the primary leader of the Anglican Communion, tweeting: “Happy birthday to my friend and dear brother in Christ, Pope Francis. Thank you for your joyful and humble leadership that bears witness to the love of Jesus Christ.”
| UPDATED: 09:10, Fri, Dec 18, 2020
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Matteo Bruni, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, revealed the papal almoner had received sunflowers from homeless Roman’s as a gift to the Pope. The flowers have sent to adorn the alter at the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican, where Pope Francis holds his daily Mass. Mr Bruni said the gesture served “as a reminder of the need to always turn our gaze towards the Lord who is present in the weakest”.
VATICAN: Amongst those who have sent their Best Wishes to Pope Francis on his 84th birthday is Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who wrote the Pope a letter of greetings and goodwill in which he also thanks him for the “participation and solidarity” he has shown the Italian people in this year of uncertainty and fear.
Ecumenical greetings have come in as well, with Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, the primary leader of the Anglican Communion, tweeting, Happy birthday to my friend and dear brother in Christ, Pope Francis. Thank you for your joyful and humble leadership that bears witness to the love of Jesus Christ.
Mr Mattarella wrote a letter of goodwill and greetings to the head of the Catholic Church.
The letter sees the President thank the Pope for his “participation and solidarity” shown to Italian’s during the coronavirus pandemic.
Recently the Pope announced he would hold his Midnight Mass on Christmas earlier in order to comply with Italy’s 10pm curfew, introduced to curb the spread of coronavirus. Advertisement
Pope Francis news: Italian President Sergio Mattarella also paid tribute to the Pope (Image: PA)
Pope Francis news: Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, also sent his regards via Twitter (Image: PA)
Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, also sent his regards to the Pope on his birthday.
French Court Convicts Former Vatican Envoy of Sexual Assault
Archbishop Luigi Ventura is one of several prominent Catholic churchmen accused of sexual misconduct in recent years
Luigi Ventura in 2010; the 76-year-old archbishop was convicted in absentia. Photo: remy gabalda/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images By Dec. 16, 2020 12:58 pm ET
PARIS A former Vatican envoy to France was found guilty of sexually assaulting five men, in the latest case of such misconduct by a senior Catholic Church official.
Archbishop Luigi Ventura, who served as papal nuncio to France until December 2019, received a suspended eight-month prison sentence from a court in Paris Wednesday for the assaults, which occurred between 2018 and 2019.