Italy ” “

“To the successor of the Prince of the Apostles we express filial devotion and pledge him the affection and constant support in prayer of all Italian Catholics”, declare the Italian bishops in a communiqué in which they thank “God for the gift made to the Church today in the form of the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI, Bishop of Rome and Primate of the Italian Church”. “The whole Church and all humanity – write the bishops – look with trust and hope to the great ministry to which God has called Benedict XVI”. “Also by virtue of the particularly close bond that unites the Italian Church with the Apostolic See, we renew our dedication, according to the guidance that the Holy Father shall give, and our willingness to promote the life of faith of our people, contribute to the construction of an Italy and a Europe capable of making their Christian roots bear fruit, and increase the missionary work so necessary and urgent in our country as in the rest of the world. We invite everyone to accept his Magisterium as the word of truth capable of generating hope in the heart of man, fostering communion among all believers in Christ and strengthening brotherhood between all peoples”.