To Our Venerable Brother Paul Leonard Hagarty
Bishop of Nassau
On the occasionof the Solemn Mass in observance of the forthcoming declaration of the Independence of the Bahamas as a State within the Commonwealth of Nations, we have pleasure in extending our cordial greetings and in associating ourself with the joy of the celebration.
At the same time we would ask you to convey our felicitation and good wishes to the Governor-General, Prime Minister, Government and People of the Bahamas at the beginning of this new epoch in the history of the Islands. We avail ourself of the occasion to assure them that the Church will not cease to be ready to offer whatever assistance is within her power for the furtherance of the spiritual, moral and temporal well-being and prosperity of the Nation.
To you, Venerable Brother, and to the clergy, religious and faithful in your pastoral care goes the expression of our paternal affection and solicitude. With the prayer that the Lord will endow all of you with his choicest gifts of happiness and peace, we cordially impart our special Apostolic Blessing.
