Wecoming Ceremony in Guadalajara (30 January 1979)

On Tuesday, 30 January 1979, the Holy Father was welcomed to Guadalajara, Mexico, replying to their greeting with this short Address. 

Lord Cardinal, Beloved Brothers and Sons,

I warmly thank the Archbishop of Guadalajara for the greeting he kindly addressed to me at the moment of my arrival in this beloved archdiocese. The Pope feels moved by the welcome, so human, so Christian and so familiar. I feel as if I were among my own people, at home.

In the history of this great country, you the inhabitants of this state and this city have always distinguished yourselves by your spirit of religion and of work. You have known how to unite the spiritual and the material in a synthesis that is based on real experience of the message of the Son of God.

My beloved friends: my greeting goes to those present here, and particularly to the priests, religious, and all those who work in the construction of the kingdom of God in this archdiocese, rich in testimony of Christian faith which is manifested in so many ways, especially in vocations to religious life.

Thank you for the opportunity which you offer your Father to be with you, my sons, on this visit.

May the Lord bless you.

© Copyright 1979  Libreria Editrice Vaticana

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