I gladly received the news today that Pope Francis has chosen you as the new bishop of Celje. Thirty-two years ago, you received your ordination as a priest in the Maribor Cathedral and then exclaimed with the Apostle Paul, "Mykindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak" (2 Co 12: 9). Today, you are reliving and renewing this vocation and covenant of allegiance to God, who has now called you to the assembly of apostles.

We know you as a researcher and connoisseur of the Bible and the word of God. Following the example of the benevolent late Bishop of Maribor, Dr Maksimilijan Držečnik, you will indeed proclaim the word of God in your apostolic ministry with great zeal. May the intercession of your patron and co-patron of the Diocese of Celje, the martyr St. Maksimilijan of Celje, accompany and support you in abundance.

As a priest of the Archdiocese of Maribor, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your priestly example and your rich contribution to the pastoral work of the Archdiocese of Maribor. With devotion, you have connected young priests for many years and were their spiritual leader and counsellor. You also have significant merits in the organization of educational meetings of priests of the Maribor Archdiocese in Pohorje and within the Commission for the Strategy of Parish Pastoral Concepts. You will undoubtedly use all these rich pastoral experiences to your advantage as a pastor of the Celje diocese for the benefit of the local Church, the Maribor metropolis and the Church in Slovenia.

May God's blessing and the protection of Mother of God be everywhere on your further apostolic path!

Msgr Alojzij Cvikl DJ

Metropolitan Archbishop of Maribor