Message to the Japanese People Before Beginning His Apostolic Journey (15 February 1981)

On 15 February 1981, the Holy Father sent a greeting to the Japanese People through the communication media before beginning his Apostolic Journey. 

Dear friends, dear brothers and sisters of Japan:

The hour of my visit to your country is drawing near and with great joy I anticipate my stay in your midst.

I am also very pleased to have this opportunity to send you my greetings in advance. It is a wonderful privilege for me to be able, through radio and television, to enter millions of homes in your nation. I thank the Japanese media for this great favour, and today I wish to express my deep gratitude to them for their contribution in getting my message across to the people.

It is my intention, during my stay in Japan, to visit the Catholic communities in Tokyo, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As Pastor of the universal Church, I am united to them by special bonds of love. But I also wish to express my friendship to all the people of your country, offer a respectful greeting to the authorities of Japan and in particular to her Imperial Majesty. I also look forward to expressing the esteem of the Catholic Church for the venerable culture of Japan and for all the spiritual and moral values ​​expressed in the  different religions of the Japanese people.

To all I declare my brotherly affection and my desire for peace. I invoke upon all the people the blessing of the Most High God.

Copyright © Dicastero per la Comunicazione - Libreria Editrice Vaticana