FAIRFAX, Va. – The Anglican District of Virginia (ADV) welcomed Pope Benedict XVI, who is currently visiting the United States.

“We are delighted to welcome Pope Benedict to this country.  When a group of concerned Episcopalians and Anglicans met in 2003 to discuss the future of orthodox Christianity in the U.S., we received encouragement from then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who had written to us on behalf of Pope John Paul II,” said Jim Oakes, vice-chairman of the Anglican District of Virginia.

“We appreciate Pope Benedict’s commitment to orthodox Christianity here in the U.S.  We pray that his message of hope will touch many lives as he visits this country,” Oakes concluded.

The following letter was received from Rome:

October 9, 2003

From Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

The Vatican, on behalf of Pope John Paul II

I hasten to assure you of my heartfelt prayers for all those taking part in this convocation.  The significance of your meeting is sensed far beyond Plano, and even in this City from which Saint Augustine of Canterbury was sent to confirm and strengthen the preaching of Christ¹s Gospel in England.  Nor can I fail to recall that barely 120 years later, Saint Boniface brought that same Christian faith from England to my own forebears in Germany.

The lives of these saints show us how in the Church of Christ there is a unity in truth and a communion of grace which transcend the borders of any nation.  With this in mind, I pray in particular that God¹s will may be done by all those who seek that unity in the truth, the gift of Christ himself.

With fraternal regards, I remain

Sincerely yours in Christ,

+Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

The Anglican District of Virginia (www.anglicandistrictofvirginia.org) is an association of Anglican congregations in Virginia.  Its members are in full communion with constituent members of the Anglican Communion through its affiliation with the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), a missionary branch of the Church of Nigeria and other Anglican Archbishops.  ADV members are a part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, a community of 77 million people.  ADV is dedicated to fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission to make disciples while actively serving in three main capacities: International Ministries, Evangelism, and Strengthening Families and Community.  ADV is currently comprised of 21 member congregations.

To schedule an interview with an ADV representative, please contact Kelly Oliver (ext. 140) or Caitlin Bozell (ext. 119) at (703) 683-5004.