L’Osservatore Romano published a short article today to mark the death of Kennedy, who died Tuesday at his home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.
Kennedy’s sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, died Aug. 10. She also received a letter from the Pope before she died.
Both were siblings of President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, who were both assassinated in the 1960s.
The Vatican newspaper revealed that when President Barack Obama visited the Vatican in June, the Pope sent with the president a letter to the dying senator. Kennedy had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in May 2008.
While noting Kennedy’s «unfortunate» support for abortion rights, L’Osservatore noted as well that the senator «was constantly on the front lines in the battles on behalf of immigrants, arms control, and a minimum wage for the poor.»
