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ADDRESS OF POPE JOHN PAUL
II TO THE 31ST SQUADRON OF THE ITALIAN AIR FORCE
Saturday, 8 January 2005
Dear Crew members of the 31st Squadron of the Italian Air Force,
I welcome you with joy and greet you with affection! I greet in particular
your Chief of Staff and thank him for his kind words on your behalf. I very
gladly reciprocate with my warmest good wishes to you for the New Year that has
just begun: may it be a serene and prosperous year for you all!
In 2005, the Church will continue to contemplate the mystery of the
Eucharist, "the living bread which came down from heaven" (Jn 6: 51) for our
salvation. This bread of eternal life is Christ, the wellspring of our hope and
the source of love from which gifts of justice, forgiveness and peace are
constantly poured out upon the world. Let us experience the riches of this
mystery, dear friends, especially by taking part in Holy Mass on Sundays, which
for Christians is the centre and culmination of the week.
This is the hope that I express as I invoke the motherly protection of the
Virgin Mary upon you and your families. On this occasion, I am also particularly
eager to express my gratitude once again for the generous and special
cooperation that you offer me in my pastoral ministry.
With these sentiments, I cordially impart my Blessing to you all.
Copyright © Libreria
Editrice Vaticana
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