Here is a translation of the telegram of condolence for the death, July 21, 2019, of Cardinal Jose Manuel Estepa Llaurens, Military Ordinary Archbishop Emeritus for Spain, of the Title of San Gabriele Arcangelo all’Acqua Traversa, sent by the Holy Father Francis to Monsignor Juan del Rio Martin, Military Ordinary Archbishop for Spain.
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The Holy Father’s Telegram
Monsignor Juan del Rio Martin
Military Archbishop
Having received the news of the death of Cardinal Jose Manuel Estepa Llaurens, Military Archbishop Emeritus, I entreat Your Excellency to have the kindness to have my sympathy and spiritual closeness reach his relatives, as well as the priests and faithful of that Military Archbishopric. Recalling with gratitude the fruits of his constant and generous service to the Church, I offer prayers for his eternal rest, at the same time as I impart to them affectionately the Apostolic Blessing, as a sign of faith and hope in Christ Risen.
Francis, P.P.
[Original text: Spanish] [ZENIT’s translation by Virginia M. Forrester]
Cardinal José Manuel Estepa Llaurens was born on 1 January 1926 in Andújar, Spain.
After completing his studies in Salamanca, Rome and Paris, he was ordained a priest on 27 June 1954.
He began working in the diocese of Madrid and then on 5 September 1972 he was appointed titular Bishop of Tisili and Auxiliary of Madrid, where he served for eleven years as rector of the archdiocesan seminary. He was consecrated on 15 October 1972.
On July 30, 1983, he was named titular Archbishop of Velebusdus and Military Ordinary of Spain. As a member of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, he assisted in tasks regarding the teaching of catechesis and doctrine of the faith.
On November 18, 1989, he was transferred to the titular see of Italice. He retired on 7 March 1998.
