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ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER PAUL VI
TO A GROUP OF SHINTOIST PRIESTS

Wednesday, 3 March 1976

 

Dear friends from Japan,

We wish to welcome you to the Vatican. From the moment of our first Encyclical, “Ecclesiam Suam”, we have endeavored, in a special way, to maintain and develop dialogue with men of good will everywhere. In the intervening years, and especially during the Holy Year, we have had ample opportunities to do this. And today we have great pleasure in extending our greetings to you and to the respected Shintoist communities that you represent.

We know the fame of your temple, and the wisdom that is represented so vividly by the images contained therein. We too, as followers of Christ, pray frequently to be shielded from evil and to be delivered from the evil one (Cfr. Matth. 6, 13). We ask ceaselessly to be purified of our sins; and through the beauty of nature we endeavour to attain and praise the Creator of all things.

As we thank you for the courtesy of your visit today, we express our own respect and our good wishes for your persons, your families and your communities.

                           



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