Autograph letter (Holy See)

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In Vatican usage, an autograph letter is a letter signed by the Pope in which he refers to himself as "I", or using the majestic plural, "we", as opposed to the more usual letter from the pope signed by a subordinate referring to the Pope as "he" and saying, for example, "The Holy Father has directed me to reply to your letter". [1]

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References

  1. An example can be found in the autograph letter of John Paul II to Bishop Licinio Rangel and the Sons of the Union of St John Mary Viannry of Campos, Brazil, 2002.