The Holy Father has sent a telegram of condolences on learning of the death of Cardinal Jose da Cruz Policarpo, patriarch emeritus of Lisbon, Portugal.
The cardinal died in the afternoon of March 12th at the age of 78.
The telegram was sent to Bishop Jose Manuel Macario do Nascimento Clemente, patriarch of Lisbon and president of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference.
In the text, Pope Francis expressed his closeness and prayer “for the patriarchate of Lisbon, the family of the departed and for all those who mourn his unexpected death”, and recalled the cardinal’s “important contribution in the different organs of the Holy See” and his “two encounters with this pastor.»
The patriarch was «committed to the search for truth» and «placed the gifts he received from the Lord to the service of the People of God and to his brother bishops, especially during his years as president of the Episcopal Conference,» the Pope said.
