Below is the Vatican-provided text of the telegram of condolences for the death, which occurred yesterday, of late Cardinal Adrianus Johannes Simonis, Archbishop Emeritus of Utrecht (Netherlands), that Pope Francis sent to Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk, current Archbishop of Utrecht:
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To Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk
Archbishop of Utrecht
Saddened to learn of the death of Cardinal Adrianus Johannes Simonis, I send prayerful condolences to you and to the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese. Commending his soul to the loving mercy of Jesus the Good Shepherd, I join you in giving thanks to Almighty God for the late Cardinal’s faithful witness to the Gospel, his years of devoted episcopal ministry to the Churches of Rotterdam and Utrecht, and his valued efforts in the service of ecclesial communion. To all who mourn Cardinal Simonis in the sure hope of the Resurrection, I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of consolation and peace in the risen Lord.
FRANCISCUS PP.
[Vatican-provided text] [Original Language: English]
