Bishop's House P.O.Box:266, Safat 13003, Safat, Kuwait. Bishop Francis Micallef O.C.D. Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait To His Holiness Pope John Paul II Your Holiness, On the auspicious occasion of your 80th birthday the Church in Kuwait expresses to your Holiness fervent and prayerful felicitations and best wishes, imploring from God, through the intercessions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the abundance of heavenly graces and blessings. The clergy, the religious sisters and our catholic faithful join me in thanking God for His gift to the Church of your Person and of your ministry. Your guidance by word and example, is a beacon of light and a source of comfort and strength in our path to the Lord, as we strive daily to live and to proclaim Christ’s message in the midst of a world that still ignores Him. Bless us all, Most Holy Father, as we renew into your hands our resolve of loyalty and fidelity to the Lord and His Church. "AD MULTOS ANNOS", Most Holy Father. Sd. Francis Micallef, O.C.D. Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait. May 18, 2000

The following letter was received from the Vatican in reply to the above.

N. 479. 123 From the Vatican, 31 May 2000 Your Excellency,        The Holy Father wishes me to thank you for the kind message of Birthday greetings and the gift of five thousand dollars which you sent to him on behalf of the Vicariate Apostolic of Kuwait. He very much appreciates the sentiments which you expressed and is especially grateful for the support of your prayers.        Invoking upon you and the priests, religious and lay faithful of the Church in Kuwait an outpouring of divine grace for a spiritually fruitful celebration of the Jubilee Year, His Holiness cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of joy and peace In our Lord Jesus Christ. Yours sincerely in Christ, The Most Reverend Francis A. Micallef Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait Bishop's House P.O. Box 266 Safat 13003