Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
September 12, 2001
Letter from Pope John Paul II
What follows is the translation of a letter from Pope John Paul II to Cardinal James Francis Stafford congratulating the cardinal on the 25th anniversary of his episcopal ordination, which occurred in February.
To our venerable brother James Francis S. E. R. Cardinal Stafford, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity:
Anticipating today an especially joyous and honorable occasion, Most Venerable Brother, we hasten to write this heartfelt letter to you in order that in the first place we might publicly show our joy and then confirm with our voice the common rejoicing of your many associates and friends.
For on the last day of February, the 25th year will be completed at which time you, as a priest long ago having looked to Christ the teacher and as a proven worker in the Lord's vineyard, entered into that college of the Successors of the Apostles as an Auxiliary Bishop of your native Archdiocese of Baltimore and at the very same time entered upon a splendid career of holy labors and pastoral good works which from the first were advantageous to the ecclesial communities in your fatherland, specifically to the Church of Memphis in Tennessee and to the Church of Denver, as well as to the Church of Baltimore.
Indeed, the offices which you have fulfilled with excellence within the same episcopal conference can hardly be enumerated as well as within the ministries of this Apostolic See. That memorable celebration of the Youth of the world which was celebrated by Us eight years ago under your very wise direction can never fade from our memory. And so all those, who have seen you acting or advising within these ecclesiastical institutions and have greatly esteemed you, will share with one mind this Our fervid joy over your episcopate.
Moreover, we extol you as a bishop with the same heartfelt eagerness by which we first made you President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity in this Apostolic See and then after two years we decided that you be appointed as a Cardinal. Our hopes in you have been fulfilled in the greatest manner which was the case also when we selected you to be Ordinary of Memphis and a little later to be Archbishop of Denver. Above all, We highly praise your daily good works on behalf of the universal Church of God and for that reason we desire to commemorate with such great fervor of heart the silver jubilee of your episcopate.
May you receive from Our hand joyful sentiments and best wishes. With Our ardent prayers that for a long time in the future you may be able to serve the People of God with great effectiveness everywhere, we transmit to you Our Blessing by which the anniversary may become a most happy celebration and in future years arouse you to undertake even greater things for Christ the Lord.
From the Vatican Palace, on the 20th of the month of January in the year 2001, the twenty-third of our Pontificate.
John Paul II
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