JOHN XXIII Angelo Giuseppe RONCALLI, future (1881-1963). L. A. S., Paris, 21 April 1946, to General de Gaulle; 2 1/2 pages in-4 headed Apostolic Nunciature in France and bearing the Vatican coat of arms; in French. With L. A. S. (minute) in reply from General de Gaulle, 7 May 1946; 2 pages in-4 on General de Gaulle's letterhead. Beautiful exchange illustrating the early links between the nuncio Angelo Roncalli, the future John XXIII, and General de Gaulle. "In the light of Christ's Resurrection, allow me to come to your solitude and tell you that I have not forgotten you, nor the great services you have rendered to the French nation, nor the great significance of your silence". On the occasion of the General's "nuptial jubilee", he expressed his best wishes to him, which he also addressed to "all the good families - rich and poor alike - of this land of France that is still so alive and so Christian"... L. A. S. (minute) from General de Gaulle, 7 May 1946, thanking the Nuncio for his Easter greetings... "I would not be surprised if the days we are living through mark an important stage in the recovery of our Europe, so essential to Christianity. I would not be surprised if these days were to mark an important stage in the recovery of our Europe, which is so essential to Christianity [...]. [...] May this recovery continue, despite the many bad seeds sown in our poor peoples torn apart by the terrible crisis from which we are emerging. Is it not true that such a wish fulfils the desire of Our Holy Father the Pope, whose action I follow with an extreme and filial interest? LNC, II, p. 794. Attached is a visiting card from Mgr Achille Ratti, Archbishop of Lepanto, Apostolic Nuncio, (the future Pius XI), with an autograph note in pencil "M. le Comm. De Gaulle".