The Apostolic Nunciature
Overnight stay
Friday 28 May – Sunday 30 May 1982
The Apostolic Nunciature is the residence of the Pope’s ‘ambassador’ to Britain. It lies within the Archdiocese of Southwark overlooking Wimbledon Common.
Established less than six months before Pope John Paul II arrived in the UK (formerly known as the Apostolic Delegation), Archbishop Bruno Bernard Heim, then Pro-Nuncio to Great Britain, welcomed the Holy Father to the Nunciature where he stayed overnight from Friday 28 May until Sunday 30 May 1982.
The current Apostolic Nuncio is His Excellency Archbishop Faustino Sainz Muñoz. He has this special message to mark the 25th anniversary of the Pastoral Visit to Britain:
Message from the Apostolic Nuncio through the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales on the Occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Visit of Pope John Paul II to Britain.
 As the representative of the Holy Father I am delighted to send my greetings on the anniversary of the pastoral visit of Pope John Paul II to Great Britain.
During that visit the Holy Father celebrated Mass at Wembley Stadium during which all present were invited to renew their baptismal promises, and in that regard proclaimed:
‘As I look at this great assembly I am full of respect for each of you. You are God’s sons and daughters; he loves you. I believe in you. I believe in all mankind. I believe in the unique dignity of every human being. I believe that each individual has a value that can never be ignored or taken away.’
Now some twenty-five years later, those words still remain relevant and comforting, resonating even today with a sense of urgency, as we are called to give Christian witness in our society. Yes, belief in God embraces a belief in the beauty, uniqueness and, of course, dignity of the human person in every moment of life.
Let this occasion of happy remembrance inspire us to renew our life in Christ as we seek to do the will of the Father, and to follow his Son in the unity of the Holy Spirit.
May God bless you all.
+ Faustino Sainz Muñoz
Apostolic Nuncio
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