Pope Francis thanked Rita Avila

Rita Avila. Facebook Photo.

MANILA – Pope Francis expressed his thanks for the books sent to him by actor-turned-book author Rita Avila, according to a post on the website of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Rita received the Pope’s gratitude through a letter from a high-ranking Vatican official.

The letter also invoked the Pope’s blessings on Rita and her husband, director Erick Reyes.

“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 the letter from Msgr. Peter Wells, of Vatican Secretariat of State.

Rita’s son Ellia Jesu died after a heart surgery in December 2006.

She and her husband received the letter on the same month of their son’s eight death anniversary.

The actress, now a writer, sent Pope Francis copies of her books, “8 Ways to Comfort with Grace” and “The Invisible Wings.

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According to the same CBCP post, “The Invisible Wings,” tells a fable about angels and children, while “8 Ways to Comfort with Grace” is a guide to educate people on how to comfort the grieving.