The Archbishop of Westminster wrote the Pope’s visit was “marvellous and unforgettable” Catholics in England and Wales are being encouraged to make their faith more visible by saying “God bless you” and genuflecting more often.
The Archbishop of Westminster called on Catholics to respond to the public expression of faith shown by the Pope.
Reverend Vincent Nichols said the four-day papal visit had given believers “new heart” for their mission.
The pastoral letter will be read out in Westminster Cathedral and 213 parishes in Westminster diocese this weekend.
The Archbishop, who is head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, called on Catholics to respond to the Pope’s hope that they would become “ever more conscious of their dignity as a priestly people”.
Writing a week after the papal visit, Rev Nichols said: “With the blessings of this visit we can be more confident in our faith and more ready to speak about it and let it be seen each day.
“A small step we can all take is to be quicker to say to others that we will pray for them, especially to those in distress.
“Even the simple step of more regularly using the greeting ‘God bless you’, gently and naturally, would make a difference to the tone we set in our daily lives, as would the more frequent use of the sign of the cross.
“Making faith visible is so much a part of the invitation the Holy Father has extended to us all.”
He said that during the four “marvellous and unforgettable” days of the Pope’s visit, Catholics had “glimpsed the beauty of holiness”.
He added: “I will never forget the richness of the silence of 80,000 people at prayer before the blessed sacrament in Hyde Park.”
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