Pope Francis thanks Filipina actress-turned-author

MANILA -Pope Francis, through a high-ranking Vatican official, thanked Rita Avila, a local actress and book author, for recently sending him personal copies of her two books. Dear Rita Avila, His Holy father wishes me to express his gratitude for the kind gift of inscribed copies of your books. He appreciates the sentiments which prompted you to share your writings with him. His Holiness will remember you and your husband in his prayers. He invokes upon you God’s blessings of strength and peace,” read part of the letter from Msgr. Peter Wells, an official at the Vatican Secretariat of State.The letter expresses the gratitude of Pope Francis for the books given by Avila entitled 8 Ways to Comfort with Grace” and The Invisible Wings.”Reports described Avila and her husband, director Erick Reyes, as both overwhelmed” by the letter, especially since they received the communication in the same month of their son Ellia Jesu’s 8th death anniversary. He died after heart surgery in December 2006.According to St. Paul’s Catholic Bookstore, 8 Ways to Comfort with Grace”, was written to help people in grief, as well as to educate would-be comforters how to do so properly.The children’s book The Invisible Wings” is a fable about angels and children.(Yen Ocampo/CBCPNews)