The Holy Father has sent a telegram of condolences to Fr. Arturo Sosa Abascal, S.J., Prepositor General of the Society of Jesus, following the death of Fr. Peter Hans Kolvenbach, S.J., former Prepositor of the Society of Jesus.

“Upon receiving news of the passing of Fr. Hans Kolvenbach, S.J., former Prepositor General of the Society of Jesus”, writes the Pope, “I wish to express to you and to all the family of Jesuits my heartfelt condolences. Remembering the total fidelity of Fr. Kolvenbach to Christ and to His Gospel, along with his generous commitment to exercising his office for the good of the Church with a spirit of service, I raise prayers invoking, from divine mercy, the eternal repose of his soul. Spiritually present in the funeral rites, I impart to you, to my brethren and to all those who mourn his loss, my heartfelt apostolic blessing”.