This week the Italian daily newspaper La Repubblica published a letter to the editor on their front page. The letter in question came from a rather high profile reader: Pope Francis.

La Repubblica's editor and co-founder, Eugenio Scalfari had written an article about obstacle to faith. However, Scalfari's article also made it clear that he had read the pope's encyclical Lumen Fidei, cover to cover and addressed several questions to the Holy Father. Scalfari no doubt believed the questions would be dismissed as rhetorical. 

It turns out Pope Francis, or someone close to him, reads La Repubblica. In response to the article the pope picked up pen and paper and wrote a "Letter to the Editor."

You can read the full English version of that letter on La Repubblica's English page.

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