Here is the response to the letter sent by the International Office of Catholic Education (OIEC) to Pope Francis following their commitment ceremony with the Global Compact for Education. The letter was accompanied by the logos of the member organizations of the OIEC who had wished to accomplish this Steps.

The original language of the letter is French, which you can read below.

Here are the Spanish and English translations of the letter:

“Your letter has reached the courier of His Holiness the Pope Francis; he asks me to thank you for your delicacy and for your commitment to the global compact for education. The Holy Father is happy for your initiatives, undertaken in the spirit of the encyclicals Laudato Si and Fratelli tutti, aimed at making education participate in the humanization of the world. He encourages you in your mission and invites you to develop concern for neighbour among young people. Indeed, as he reminds us, it is necessary to “create processes of encounter, processes which build a people capable of welcoming differences? Let us equip our children with the weapons of dialogue! Let us teach them the good fight of the encounter” (fratelli tutti, n217). In this hope, the Pope assures you of his prayers for your intentions. You have a fruitful Easter season, as well as all the members of the OIEC, Pope Francis entrusts you to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, and heartily grants you, his Benedictine. I beg you to believe, Sir, in my devotion in the Lord.”

“Su carta ha llegado al correo de Su Santidad el Papa Francisco; me pide que le agradezca su delicadeza y su compromiso con el pacto educativo mundial. El Santo Padre se alegra de sus iniciativas, emprendidas en el espíritu de las encíclicas Laudato Si y Fratelli tutti, destinadas a hacer partícipe a la educación de la humanización del mundo. Te anima en tu misión y te invita a desarrollar la preocupación por el prójimo entre los jóvenes. En efecto, como nos recuerda, es necesario “crear procesos de encuentro, procesos que construyan un pueblo capaz de acoger las diferencias? ¡Dotemos a nuestros hijos de las armas del diálogo! ¡Enseñémosles la buena lucha del encuentro” ( fratelli tutti, n217). En esta esperanza, el Papa les asegura sus oraciones por sus intenciones. Tenéis una Pascua fructífera, así como todos los miembros de la OIEC, el Papa Francisco os confía a la intercesión de la Virgen María, y os concede de todo corazón su Benedictino. Le ruego que crea, señor, en mi devoción por el señor.”