” “"Lately, I have shared your sufferings and I wish to reassure you of my spiritual sympathy and fraternal understanding". These are the words that Benedict XVI said to mgr. Stanislaw Wielgus, the emeritus archbishop of Warsaw who on 8th January resigned from his pastoral offices. "When one month ago you handed in your resignation reads the Pope’s letter to the Polish bishop, announced today by the newsroom of the Holy See in an editorial translation from the original language , aware that the situation that had come into being does not allow you to begin your Episcopal service with the essential authority, I have clearly seen in this gesture your deep awareness of the good of the Church of Warsaw and the Church of Poland, as well as your deep humbleness and detachment from your offices". The Pontiff wished to mgr. Wielgus "to resume his work at the service of Christ, insofar as this will be possible, for him to make use of his vast and deep knowledge and priestly mercy for the good of the beloved Church in Poland", aware that "a bishop’s mission, as much now as in the past, is affected by suffering". In the meantime, the Polish Church decided to dedicate Ash Wednesday to "a special day of prayer and penance for all priests". ” ” ” “
