LETTER OF JOHN PAUL II
TO THE NEWLY-ELECTED
PATRIARCH OF BABYLON FOR CHALDEANS,
H.B. EMMANUEL III DELLY   

To H.B. Emmanuel III Delly
Patriarch of Babylon for Chaldeans

Your Beatitude, I received with great joy the letter, full of deep trust in the Lord, in which you announced to me your election as Patriarch of Babylon for Chaldeans.

As I offer you my fraternal good wishes and encourage you to trust in the prayer of the entire Church, I very willingly grant you the requested ecclesiastical communion, in conformity with the sacred canons, together with the assurance of my fraternal charity.

May the Lord, Pastor of pastors, fill you with all his graces so that you may carry out your new ministry for the glory of God, the consolation of those entrusted to your fatherly solicitude and the good of the universal Church.

As I entrust you, Your Beatitude, to the All Holy Mother of God, I accompany these sentiments with my fervent remembrance in prayer that your patriarchal mission may be comforted by fruits of good in abundance.

As I exchange a fraternal embrace with you and with all the Members of the Holy Synod, I impart an affectionate Apostolic Blessing to you which I gladly extend to the Bishops, priests, consecrated men and women and all the faithful of the Patriarchate.

From the Vatican, 3 December 2003

IOANNES PAULUS II