The following is the telegram of condolence for the victims of the violent storm that hit Emilia Romagna, sent on behalf of the Holy Father Francis by the Substitute for General Affairs, Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, to His Eminence Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference:

Telegram

TO HIS MOST REVEREND EMINENCE

CARDINAL MATTEO MARIA ZUPPI

METROPOLITAN ARCHBISHOP OF BOLOGNA

PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE

BOLOGNA

HAVING BEEN INFORMED OF THE VIOLENT STORM WHICH HAS HIT THE REGION OF EMILIA ROMAGNA, ESPECIALLY THE EASTERN PROVINCES, THE HOLY FATHER REQUESTS YOUR EMINENCE TO CONVEY TO THE RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF THE VICTIMS HIS SENTIMENTS OF HEARTFELT SYMPATHY FOR THE MAJOR DISASTER WHICH HAS STRUCK THIS TERRITORY. WHILE ASSURING FERVENT PRAYERS OF SUFFRAGE FOR THE DECEASED AND EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO THEIR FAMILIES, THE SUPREME PONTIFF INVOKES FROM GOD COMFORT FOR THE WOUNDED AND CONSOLATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS GRAVE CALAMITY. POPE FRANCIS THANKS ALL THOSE WHO IN THESE HOURS OF PARTICULAR DIFFICULTY ARE WORKING TO BRING RELIEF AND TO ALLEVIATE ALL SUFFERING, AS WELL AS THE DIOCESAN COMMUNITIES FOR THEIR MANIFESTATION OF COMMUNION AND FRATERNAL CLOSENESS TO THE MOST AFFLICTED POPULATIONS. THE SUPREME PONTIFF SENDS THE APOSTOLIC BLESSING TO ALL AS A SIGN OF SPECIAL SPIRITUAL CLOSENESS. I ALSO ADD THE PARTICIPATION OF THE MOST EMINENT CARDINAL SECRETARY OF STATE AND MY OWN PERSONAL PARTICIPATION, ASSURING A PRAYERFUL REMEMBRANCE.

From the Vatican, 18 May 2023

EDGAR PEÑA PARRA

SUBSTITUTE