“”   

LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS POPE JOHN PAUL II TO SISTER LUCIA

(translation)     

To the Reverend Sister 
Maria Lucia 
of the Convent of Coimbra   

In the great joy of Easter, I greet you with the words the Risen Jesus spoke to the disciples: “Peace be with you”! 

I will be happy to be able to meet you on the long-awaited day of the Beatification of Francisco and Jacinta, which, please God, I will celebrate on 13 May of this year. 

Since on that day there will be time only for a brief greeting and not a conversation, I am sending His Excellency Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, to speak with you. This is the Congregation which works most closely with the Pope in defending the true Catholic faith, and which since 1957, as you know, has kept your hand-written letter containing the third part of the “secret” revealed on 13 July 1917 at Cova da Iria, Fatima. 

Archbishop Bertone, accompanied by the Bishop of Leiria, His Excellency Bishop Serafim de Sousa Ferreira e Silva, will come in my name to ask certain questions about the interpretation of “the third part of the secret”. 

Sister Maria Lucia, you may speak openly and candidly to Archbishop Bertone, who will report your answers directly to me. 

I pray fervently to the Mother of the Risen Lord for you, Reverend Sister, for the Community of Coimbra and for the whole Church. May Mary, Mother of pilgrim humanity, keep us always united to Jesus, her beloved Son and our brother, the Lord of life and glory. 

With my special Apostolic Blessing.

IOANNES PAULUS PP. II   

From the Vatican, 19 April 2000.