Card. Joachim Meisner (Photo: 2014) / Wikimedia Commons - Raimond Spekking, CC© BY-SA 4.0

Pope Sends Condolences for Death of Cardinal Meisner

‘May Christ Reward Him for His Faithful Efforts’

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Pope Francis has sent his condolences to the relatives of Cardinal Joachim Meisner, Archbishop emeritus of Cologne, who died on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, at the age of 83.
In the telegram addressed to Cardinal Rainer Woelki, current Archbishop of Cologne, the Pope said the late cardinal was “dedicated to the proclamation of the Good News” with “profound faith and sincere love for the Church.”
“May Christ the Lord,” the Pope prayed, before imparting his blessing, “reward him for his faithful and intrepid efforts in favor of the good of people of East and West.”
Here is a working translation of the telegram Pope Francis sent today:
* * *
The Holy Father’s Telegram
To HIS EMINENCE
THE CARDINAL RAINER WOELKI
ARCHBISHOP OF COLOGNE
“With profound emotion I learned that, suddenly and unexpectedly, Cardinal Joachim Meisner was called from this earth by the God of mercy. I am close to you and to all faithful of the Archdiocese of Cologne in prayer for the late Pastor. With profound faith and sincere love for the Church, Cardinal Meisner was dedicated to the proclamation of the Good News. May Christ the Lord reward him for his faithful and intrepid efforts in favor of the good of people of East and West and make him participant in the Communion of Saints in Heaven. From the heart, I impart my Apostolic Blessing upon all those who remember the deceased pastor with prayer and sacrifice.
POPE FRANCIS
[Original text: Italian/German] [Working Translation by Deborah Castellano Lubov]
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Deborah Castellano Lubov

Deborah Castellano Lubov is Senior Vatican & Rome Correspondent for ZENIT; author of 'The Other Francis' ('L'Altro Francesco') featuring interviews with those closest to the Pope and preface by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin (currently published in 5 languages); Deborah is also NBC & MSNBC Vatican Analyst. She often covers the Pope's travels abroad, often from the Papal Flight (including for historic trips such as to Abu Dhabi and Japan & Thailand), and has also asked him questions on the return-flight press conference on behalf of the English-speaking press present. Lubov has done much TV & radio commentary, including for NBC, Sky, EWTN, BBC, Vatican Radio, AP, Reuters and more. She also has contributed to various books on the Pope and has written for various Catholic publications. For 'The Other Francis': http://www.gracewing.co.uk/page219.html or https://www.amazon.com/Other-Francis-Everything-They-about/dp/0852449348/

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