Here is a translation of the Holy Father’s telegram to Sergio Mattarella, who was elected on Saturday to succeed Giorgio Napolitano as the President of the Italian Republic.
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To His Excellency,
Hon. Sergio Mattarella
President of the Italian Republic
Palazzo del Quirinale 00187 Rome
I am pleased to express my respectful good wishes for your election to the Supreme Magistrate of the Italian state and, while I hope that you may exercise this high task especially in the service of unity and harmony of the country, I invoke upon your person the constant divine assistance for an enlightened action for the promotion of the common good in the wake of the authentic human and spiritual values of the Italian people. With these wishes, I invoke on you and the entire nation my Apostolic Blessing.
FRANCISCUS PP.
