LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
TO CARDINAL FRANCIS ARINZE
CONCERNING THE WORK OF THE "VOX CLARA" COMMITTEE

To my Venerable Brother
Cardinal Francis Arinze
Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship
and the Discipline of the Sacraments

With fraternal affection, I offer you cordial greetings in the Lord, and I ask you to convey my good wishes also the members and advisors of the Vox Clara Committee, established in order to assist the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in fulfilling its responsibilities with regard to the English translations of liturgical texts.

I greatly appreciate the contribution of the Vox Clara Committee to this task, and I am confident that, in consequence, the translation of the Missale Romanum into English will succeed in transmitting the treasures of the faith and the liturgical tradition in the specific context of a devout and reverent Eucharistic celebration.

As my beloved predecessor, Pope John Paul II noted on the occasion of the establishment of the Vox Clara Committee on 20 April, 2002, it reflects the international character of the English language by drawing upon the pastoral experience of senior English-speaking Bishops from territories of divergent cultures in five Continents. For the personal sacrifices of the Members and advisors of the Committee and for their prayerful and faith-filled commitment to their labors I express my sincere thanks.

To this gratitude I add the hope that the translation into English of the latest edition of the Missale Romanum may soon be completed, so that the faithful throughout the English-speaking world may benefit from the use of liturgical texts accurately rendered in accordance with the norms of the Instruction Liturgiam Authenticam. Trusting in the assistance of the Holy Spirit in this great ecclesial enterprise, and invoking the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, I gladly impart my Apostolic Blessing to you and to all those involved in this important work.

From the Vatican, 9 November 2005. 

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

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