I would like to offer heartfelt thanks to all the many people
throughout the whole world, who, in recent weeks have sent
me moving tokens of concern, friendship and prayer. Yes, the
Pope is never alone: now I experience this [truth] again in a
way so great as to touch my very heart. The Pope belongs to
everyone, and so many people feel very close to him. It’s true
that I receive letters from the world’s greatest figures – from
the Heads of State, religious leaders, representatives of the
world of culture and so on. I also receive many letters from
ordinary people who write to me simply from their heart and
let me feel their affection, which is born of our being together
in Christ Jesus, in the Church. These people do not write me
as one might write, for example, to a prince or a great figure
one does not know. They write as brothers and sisters, sons
and daughters, with the sense of very affectionate family ties.
Here, one can touch what the Church is – not an organization,
not an association for religious or humanitarian purposes, but
a living body, a community of brothers and sisters in the Body
of Jesus Christ, who unites us all. To experience the Church in
this way and almost be able to touch with one’s hands the
power of His truth and His love, is a source of joy, in a time in
which many speak of its decline.
throughout the whole world, who, in recent weeks have sent
me moving tokens of concern, friendship and prayer. Yes, the
Pope is never alone: now I experience this [truth] again in a
way so great as to touch my very heart. The Pope belongs to
everyone, and so many people feel very close to him. It’s true
that I receive letters from the world’s greatest figures – from
the Heads of State, religious leaders, representatives of the
world of culture and so on. I also receive many letters from
ordinary people who write to me simply from their heart and
let me feel their affection, which is born of our being together
in Christ Jesus, in the Church. These people do not write me
as one might write, for example, to a prince or a great figure
one does not know. They write as brothers and sisters, sons
and daughters, with the sense of very affectionate family ties.
Here, one can touch what the Church is – not an organization,
not an association for religious or humanitarian purposes, but
a living body, a community of brothers and sisters in the Body
of Jesus Christ, who unites us all. To experience the Church in
this way and almost be able to touch with one’s hands the
power of His truth and His love, is a source of joy, in a time in
which many speak of its decline.