MESSAGE FROM THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE OF THAILAND
00269/2019
APOSTOLIC VISIT OF POPE FRANCIS TO THAILAND
20th – 23rd NOVEMBER 2019
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As you are already aware, His Holiness Pope Francis will be making an apostolic journey to Thailand. This visit is a joyous occasion for all Catholics, especially as this year marks the 350th Anniversary of the Roman Catholic Church in Siam.
The mission and the life of Pope Francis, the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, is the proclamation of the culture of love and compassion in accordance to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
The pastoral visits to Catholics and other congregations of all nations, languages, religions, and denominations is part of the mission to strengthen universal fraternity and encourage the peaceful co-existence of all humanity, which will bring manifold benefits for all.
I would like to invite all Catholics to unite in prayer for Pope Francis, participate in the Holy Mass in thanksgiving, extend our welcome to him, and partake in the various missions that His Holiness will undertake during his visit to Thailand. Let us do so in the spirit of harmony, so that the resurrected Christ will be present among us as “the love of God”, as we gather together in His name.
May the blessing of Jesus Christ be upon you, your families, and on the communities of faith, now and for always.
November 1, 2019 – All Saints’ Day
(Cardinal Francis-Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij)
President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand
(Bishop Vira Arpondratana)
Secretary-General of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand