The following is the telegram of condolences for the death at age 87, August 22, 2019, of His Eminence Cardinal Sergio Obeso Rivera, archbishop emeritus of Xalapa, Mexico, of the title of San Leone I, sent by the Holy Father Francis to H. E. Msgr. Hipólito Reyes Larios, archbishop of Xalapa.
Telegram of the Holy Father
H.E. MSGR. HIPÓLITO REYES LARIOS
ARCHBISHOP OF XALAPA
UPON RECEIVING THE NEWS OF THE DEATH OF CARDINAL SERGIO OBESO RIVERA, ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS OF XALAPA, I EXPRESS TO YOUR EXCELLENCY MY SORROW, ASKING YOU KINDLY TO TRANSMIT IT ALSO TO THE RELATIVES OF THE DECEASED PRELATE AND TO THOSE WHO FORM PART OF THE ARCHDIOCESE.
REMEMBERING THIS SELFLESS PASTOR WHO, FOR YEARS AND WITH FIDELITY, GAVE HIS LIFE TO THE SERVICE OF GOD AND THE CHURCH, I PRAY FOR THE ETERNAL REPOSE OF HIS SOUL. MAY THE LORD JESUS GRANT HIM THE CROWN OF GLORY THAT NEVER FADES. TO ALL I IMPART MY APOSTOLIC BLESSING.
FRANCISCO PP.
Cardinal Obeso Rivera studied theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, before being ordained a priest in 1954.
In Mexico, he held various positions at the local seminary in Xalapa, teaching theology and eventually becoming the Rector.
He was ordained a bishop in 1971 and was appointed archbishop of Xalapa in 1979.
He served three terms as President of the Mexican Bishops’ Conference before resigning from the pastoral care of the Xalapa Archdiocese in 2007, having reached the canonical age limit of 75.
He was created a cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of June 28, 2018.
With the death of Cardinal Obeso Rivera, the College of Cardinals now numbers 216 in total, of whom 119 are electors.
