Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State, sent a message of condolence on behalf of the Holy Father to Livia Danese Andreotti, wife of Italian Senator Giulio Andreotti who passed away yesterday at the age of 94.
Andreotti, who served as Prime Minister seven times in Italy, was a friend of many popes throughout his political career.
Cardinal Bertone expressed his “heartfelt participation in the sad mourning” over Andreotti’s death, calling him an “authoritative protagonist of Italian political life, worthy servant of Institutions, a man of faith and a devout son of the Church.”
“I assure you of my fervent remembrance in prayer and I invoke for all those mourning his passing the comfort of Christian hope,» the statement concluded.