Pope writing a letter

Pope writing a letter

Ahead of Pope Francis' Possible November Trip to Japan, Francis Sends Best Wishes to New Emperor Naruhito

‘I assure you of my prayers that you may be endowed always with the gifts of wisdom and strength in your dedicated service to the nation’

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Ahead of a highly anticipated speculated papal trip to Japan, Pope Francis has sent the new Emperor of Japan, Naruhito, best wishes.
In a telegram today, May 2, one day after Naruhito’s father abdicated the throne, the Pope imparted on Emperor Naruhito, his imperial family and all the nation, blessings, on the occasion of his accession.
Pope Francis has said he will go to Japan in November. As a young Jesuit, Jorge Mario Bergoglio had wished to go to Japan as a missionary.
Here is the Vatican-provided full telegram:
***
His Imperial Majesty
Naruhito
Emperor of Japan
I extend to Your Majesty my cordial greetings and best wishes on the occasion of your solemn accession to the throne, and I assure you of my prayers that you may be endowed always with the gifts of wisdom and strength in your dedicated service to the nation. Upon you, the Members of the Imperial Family and all the people of Japan, I invoke the divine blessings of peace and well-being.
FRANCISCUS PP.
[Vatican-provided text] ***
Also today, Pope Francis met with the bishops of Argentina in Rome on the occasion of their ad limina visit, and addressed the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. The Pope’s full address at the Academy is being translated and will be provided to our readers in the near future.

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Deborah Castellano Lubov

Deborah Castellano Lubov is Senior Vatican & Rome Correspondent for ZENIT; author of 'The Other Francis' ('L'Altro Francesco') featuring interviews with those closest to the Pope and preface by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin (currently published in 5 languages); Deborah is also NBC & MSNBC Vatican Analyst. She often covers the Pope's travels abroad, often from the Papal Flight (including for historic trips such as to Abu Dhabi and Japan & Thailand), and has also asked him questions on the return-flight press conference on behalf of the English-speaking press present. Lubov has done much TV & radio commentary, including for NBC, Sky, EWTN, BBC, Vatican Radio, AP, Reuters and more. She also has contributed to various books on the Pope and has written for various Catholic publications. For 'The Other Francis': http://www.gracewing.co.uk/page219.html or https://www.amazon.com/Other-Francis-Everything-They-about/dp/0852449348/

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