SECRETARIAT OF STATE

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has received the message that you sent to him on behalf of the Catholic Church in Taiwan on the occasion of the end of his Pontificate, and he has asked me to thank you. He appreciates the sentiments that you expressed and he is grateful for the support of your prayers.

His Holiness promises to remember you in his own prayers so that God's blessings of strength, peace and joy may always accompany you, your brother bishops, the priests, religious and lay faithful in Taiwan. He willingly imparts to all of you his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of grace and peace.

Yours sincerely in Christ,