This document is an official congratulatory letter sent by the Czechoslovak civic initiative Charter 77 to Pope John Paul II on the occasion of his election as head of the Roman Catholic Church in 1978. The Charter 77 spokespersons, Václav Havel and Ladislav Hejdánek, express their sincere joy that a representative of a nation sharing a common destiny and struggles with Czechoslovakia has been elected. The signatories praise the Pope's courageous stance in defending human rights and free human life, noting his immediate outreach to their nations and his determination to support those suffering for their human mission. The text specifically highlights the hope that the Pope will not forget those imprisoned for their beliefs and opinions. This message signifies a profound connection between the opposition movement in a totalitarian state and the moral authority of the Holy See. It reflects the shared goals of religious freedom and the broader struggle for human dignity and human rights within the Eastern Bloc during the late 1970s, documenting the international dimension of Czechoslovak dissent.