The Pope wrote a letter to the cardinal, who celebrated his 50th anniversary of ordination Saturday, in which he called the event a “honorable milestone in the life of a pastor.”
He praised Cardinal Ruoco, who is also the president of Spain’s episcopal conference, and said the cardinal “merits being appropriately appreciated and celebrated.”
“We know very well that your ecclesial community is taken care of in everything with prudence and diligence and is organized in a suitable way,” Benedict XVI said. “The sacred ministers are looked after in a special way; catechesis is appropriately imparted; families, young people and all the faithful are instructed in a complete way in the Christian precepts.”
The Pope expressed his heartfelt congratulations to Cardinal Rouco and said he would pray that the Divine Shepherd would “generously recompense all your merits and sustain you in your apostolic work.”
