Autograph Letter Signed 'A. G. Roncalli' in Italian with Translation, to a friend, probably from his home region of Bergamo in Northern Italy, (born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, 1881-1963, Pope from 1958, known as Blessed John XXIII since his beatification, called the Second Vatican Council in 1962)

sending his "heartfelt thanks for the precious booklet 'Bergamo in Numbers' which reflects such honour on the Chamber of Commerce and its illustrious and dear President: Congratulatoins on the increasing number of mankind's children in the land of Bergamo. I wish you continued growth without interruption in physical prosperity, and spiritual elevation. Would, perhaps, a retrospective glance be useful? At the time of St. Charles Borromeo, the apostolic visitor (1575), Bergamo city and suburbs numbered 19,950 and the diocese 139,232. Warm greetings...", 2 sides correspondence card, headed "Mgr. Ange-Joseph Roncalli, Archevêque titulaire de Mesembria, Nonce Apostolique", Paris, 21st July Known affectionately as "Good Pope John" and "the most loved Pope in history" to many people, on September 3, 2000 John was declared "Blessed" by Pope John Paul II, the penultimate step on the road to sainthood. Following his beatification, his body was moved from its original burial place in the grottoes below St Peter's Basilica to the Altar of St. Jerome and displayed for the veneration of the faithful. Transcription Parigi, 21 VII 1948 Mgr. Ange-Joseph Roncalli Archevêque titulaire de Mesembria Nonce Apostolique Vivamente ringrazia per il prezioso fascicolo: Bergamo in cifre che fa onore alla Camera di Commercio e al suo illustre e caro Presidente: si felicita dell' aumento dei figli dell'uomo in terra Bergamasca e li augura progredienti senza interruzione in prosperità fisica, in elevazione spirituale. Non sarebbe utile qualche sguardo retrospettivo ? Ai tempi di San Carlo Borromeo visitatore apostolico (1575) Bergamo città e periferìa contava 19.950 e la diòcesi 139.232 … Saluti carissimi + A.G. Roncalli n.a. Translation Paris, July, the 21st 1948 Mgr. Ange-Joseph Roncalli Archevêque titulaire de Mesembria Nonce Apostolique My heartfelt thanks for the precious booklet 'Bergamo in Numbers' which reflects such honour on the Chamber of Commerce and its illustrious and dear President: Congratulatoins on the increasing number of mankind's children in the land of Bergamo. I wish you continued growth without interruption in physical prosperity, and spiritual elevation. Would, perhaps, a retrospective glance be useful? At the time of St. Charles Borromeo, the apostolic visitor (1575), Bergamo city and suburbs numbered 19,950 and the diocese 139,232. Warm greetings, + A.G. Roncalli n.a.