The Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, delivered a message and Apostolic Blessing for Welsh Catholics from Pope Francis during a special Welsh-language Mass which was celebrated at St. James’s Church, Spanish Square, on March 30 .
Bishop Gugerotti said Pope Francis was: “very happy to be informed of the Mass in Welsh…”
The message continued: “Aware of the cultural and historical heritage of Wales and its venerable Christian tradition nurtured by great saints such as Beuno, Winifred and Cadoc, the Holy Father wishes to encourage Welsh people and those who wish to preserve this heritage to practice and inspire others to study, speak and pray in this ancient language.
“His Holiness wishes to transmit his spiritual closeness and his best wishes of prayer to all those who participate in this important ecclesial event. As a pledge of heavenly graces, the Holy Father invokes the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of Saint David, Patron of Wales, and cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing.”
The mass was recorded and is available on Youtube (see link below). Introductory music as people arrive is played for the first 30 minutes of the recording, followed by the procession and mass. Father Gildas Parry was the chief celebrant and four Welsh choirs and a Welsh military band also took part. The apostolic nuncio is called around 1:52:35 p.m. to deliver the apostolic blessing of Pope Francis at the end of the mass, before the final blessing.
Watch a recording of the Mass here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWwU9fAY8mc
Keywords: Welsh, Archbishop George Stack, Huw Edwards, Spanish Lieu, Guto Harr, Fr Gildas Parry
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