Pope Francis expressed his condolences for the death of Adolfo Suárez Gonzalez, former Prime Minister of Spain. Suárez was the country’s first democratically elected Prime Minister, coming to power in 1977 after the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco.
The former Prime Minister died in Madrid on Sunday at the age of 81 following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
The Holy Father’s message was sent by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin to Bishop Jesús García Burillo of Avila, the province where Suárez was born.
“His Holiness expresses his deepest condolences, with accompanying prayers of intercession to the Lord for the eternal rest of this eminent figure of the recent Spanish era,” the telegram stated.
Cardinal Parolin said the Holy Father imparted his Apostolic Blessing on Suárez’s family and all those who mourn “as a sign of Christian hope in the Risen Lord.” (J.A.E.)
