The following is the telegram sent on behalf of the Holy Father by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin to the participants in the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the arrival in India of the first Lithuanian, Father Andrius Rudamina, S.J.:

Telegram

HIS EMINENCE CARDINAL FILIPE NERI ANTÓNIO SEBASTIÃO DO ROSÁRIO FERRÃO
ARCHBISHOP OF GOA AND DAMAN

HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV SENDS CORDIAL GREETINGS OF GOOD WISHES TO ALL GATHERED IN SE CATHEDRAL, OLD GOA, TO COMMEMORATE THE FOUR HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARRIVAL IN INDIA OF THE FIRST LITHUANIAN, JESUIT FATHER ANDRIUS RUDAMINA. JOINING IN YOUR THANKSGIVING TO ALMIGHTY GOD FOR THE WITNESS OF THIS MISSIONARY PRIEST, WHOSE SOLID CATHOLIC FAITH CAN STILL BE SEEN IN PRESENT DAY LITHUANIA, HIS HOLINESS PRAYS THAT THE CELEBRATION OF SUCH GENEROSITY AND COURAGE IN BRINGING THE SAVING MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL TO ALL PEOPLES WILL ENCOURAGE MANY IN OUR OWN TIMES TO RESPOND WITH SIMILAR PATIENCE AND INGENUITY TO THE TASK OF EVANGELIZATION. HE LIKEWISE TRUSTS THAT, BY BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATIONS OF FATHER RUDAMINA’S MISSIONARY ZEAL AND IMPRESSIVE LEGACY OF DIALOGUE AND CULTURAL INTEGRATION, THE CHRISTIANS OF THIS LOCAL CHURCH WILL BE ENCOURAGED, ESPECIALLY IN THIS JUBILEE YEAR CENTRED ON HOPE, TO FOSTER BOTH ECUMENICAL AND INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE THAT CAN SERVE AS A MODEL FOR ALL IN SOCIETY OF FRATERNAL HARMONY, RECONCILIATION AND CONCORD. WITH THESE SENTIMENTS, THE HOLY FATHER CORDIALLY IMPARTS HIS APOSTOLIC BLESSING TO THOSE PRESENT, WHICH HE WILLINGLY EXTENDS TO THE MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES, AS A PLEDGE OF JOY AND PEACE IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN
SECRETARY OF STATE