MESSAGE OF JOHN PAUL II
TO HIS EMINENCE CARDINAL FRANCIS ARINZE
ON THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONCILIAR CONSTITUTION
"SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM"

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

Forty years to the day, 4 December 1963, on which my venerable Predecessor, Pope Paul VI, promulgated the Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium, first fruit of the Second Vatican Council, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has opportunely promoted a study day in order to emphasize the foundational themes of liturgical renewal desired by the Council.

I am delighted with this initiative, and I willingly take this opportunity to communicate to you, Venerable Brother, and to all the Congress participants, the Letter I prepared in order to recall the promulgation of the above-mentioned Conciliar Constitution, which has marked a fundamentally important stage in the Church's life for the promotion and the development of the Liturgy.

In entrusting to this Dicastery the work of making known to the Christian people the content of the enclosed Apostolic Letter, I assure you of my spiritual presence during the Congress' work, while I wholeheartedly send to you, Venerable Brother, to your collaborators, to the relators and to all present a special Blessing, laden with heavenly favours.

From the Vatican, 4 December 2003