From the Secretary of State in the Vatican

Jan 16, 2015

Pope Francis's response to the Christmas greetings accompanied by a Filipino Christmas Crib, as a sign of welcome on behalf of the Filippino members of the Focolare for his imminent visit in Asia.

TRANSLATION OF LETTER IN ITALIAN (see below) SECRETARY OF STATE

Vatican City, 10 January 2015

Dear Madam, On the occasion of Christmas and New Year, you sent greetings to the Holy Father on behalf of your Movement, assuring prayers and bestowing upon him the gift of a Filippino Christmas crib and some traditional food products. His Holiness wishes to extend his gratitude for your show of affection and hopes that the birth of Christ, who came on earth to give us light, grace, mercy and the tenderness of the Father, may help us all rediscover the true joy of Christmas. Together with these sentiments, the Holy Father, while invoking upon yourself, and all those united with you in this courteous homage, the celestial intercession of the Our Lady, Immaculate Mother of Our Saviour, joyfully imparts his Apostolic Blessing Angelo Becciu Substitute