Hawzah News Agency (Qom, Iran) – Leader of the Catholic World Pope Francis has responded to a Christmas message sent by Head of Iran's Islamic Seminaries Ayatollah Alireza Arafi to Christian representatives.

The text of Pope Francis' appreciation letter which has been delivered to Ayatollah Arafi by Vatican's Substitute for General Affairs in the Secretariat of State Giovanni Angelo Becciu is as follows:

Vatican Secretariat of State

To Ayatollah Alireza Arafi

His Excellency Pope Francis expresses his gratitude over your kind letter to congratulate the Christian New Year. Pope Francis wishes you the best in the New Year. He further thanks you for your wise remarks on the importance of divine peace and bounties, wishing you and your loved ones abundance of divine blessings.

Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu

Vatican's Substitute for General Affairs in the Secretariat of State

February 21, 2018