Rome. John Paul II’s Letter on the Rosary is a best-seller
The Apostolic Letter "Rosarium Virginis Mariae" was the best selling book of 2002 for Paoline Editoriale Africa, according to the international agency Fides, organ of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Indeed 15,000 copies have been printed in English and 20,000 in Swahili, with two re-editions.
The wide distribution of this text on the Rosary is even more surprising considering that, of the 20 countries in the world which have the greatest level of illiteracy, 14 are in Africa.
In Spain, the text is in the 15 top selling religious publications.
Certainly, we are not in agreement with this document in its totality, as it shows obvious flaws in certain points (cf. DICI 63, 26th October 2002). Nevertheless, giving renewed honor to the Rosary is a courageous act by the Pope in the present circumstances, an act which will certainly bring about many graces.
Its positive reception especially in the southern countries shows that the interest of the faithful in the traditional teaching and practices of the Church remains vigorous, and that it is for the Pope and the bishops to respond to their childrens requests, for bread and not stones. On the other hand, in countries like France and Germany, the document has been given a very frosty reception, and its application by the bishops has been, for the most part, non-existent. A number of Traditionalist priests reacted and took initiatives to compensate (cf. News from Tradition).
