VATICAN CITY, OCT. 14, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is mourning Cardinal Antonio González Zumárraga, retired archbishop of Quito, Ecuador, who died Monday at age 83.
The Pope sent a telegram to express his condolences for the death of the cardinal.
«Deeply saddened by the death of the beloved cardinal,» the Holy Father said, «I wish to express my deepest condolences to the pastor, auxiliary bishops, clergy and faithful of that particular Church, as well as to the relatives of the late cardinal, joining them in fervent prayers to the Lord that he may grant his peace to one who served the Church with such intensity and generosity during his pastoral ministry, as guide of the Diocese of Machala and later as archbishop of this metropolitan see.»
«With faith in Christ’s paschal mystery that illuminates moments of pain and fills them with hope, and in memory of a pastor committed until his final days to the evangelizing mission as, among other things, honorary president of the episcopal conference and committee president for the recent American Missionary Congress, I am happy to impart a special apostolic blessing to those weeping such a touching loss,» he added.
Antonio González Zumárraga was born in Ecuador in 1925. He was ordained a priest at age 26, and made auxiliary bishop of Quito in 1969.
