With gratitude

Following his return to Rome from the celebrations of the XXVIII World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Pope Francis sent a letter of gratitude to Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno Assis, the Archbishop of Aparecida, and President of the Brazilian Episcopal Conference in which he expressed his gratitude for the affection and welcome he received on the occasion of his pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Virgin of Aparecida.

His Holiness also wrote a letter to the governor of the region of Rio de Janeiro, dated August 2, in which he thanked the civil authorities for the welcome he received.  The letter, sent to Governor Sergio Cabral, was published this past Sunday in the O Estado de Sao Paolo newspaper.

Governor Cabral commented on the Holy Father's letter, saying that the letter from His Holiness has moved us all.

The Supreme Pontiff expressed his sincere gratitude for the welcome he received during his stay in Rio and for the work of all the sectors of the Federal Government and the State who worked tirelessly to guarantee the good development of my visit.

He also expressed his gratitude for having met the citizens at the Palace of Guanabara, the seat of the State government of Rio de Janeiro on the evening of his arrival.

The Pope assured his prayers for the success of all the initiatives of the government in favor of the common good of the citizens of Rio, in particular for their public safety:  I wish the most abundant blessing of God and ask that you please pray for me, were the words with which he concluded his letter.