Pubblichiamo di seguito il telegramma di cordoglio per la scomparsa della Sig.ra Corazon Aquino, ex-Presidente delle Filippine, avvenuta la scorsa notte, inviato all’Arcivescovo di Manila dal Cardinale Segretario di Stato Tarcisio Bertone a nome del Santo Padre Benedetto XVI:

HIS EMINENCE CARDINAL GAUDENCIO ROSALES

ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA

THE HOLY FATHER WAS DEEPLY SADDENED TO LEARN OF THE DEATH OF MRS. CORAZON AQUINO AND HE ASKS YOU TO CONVEY TO HER FAMILY AND THE GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES HIS HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES AND THE ASSURANCE OF HIS PRAYERS FOR HER ETERNAL REST. RECALLING PRESIDENT AQUINO’S COURAGEOUS COMMITMENT TO THE FREEDOM OF THE FILIPPINO PEOPLE, HER FIRM REJECTION OF VIOLENCE AND INTOLERANCE, AND HER CONTRIBUTION TO THE REBUILDING OF A JUST AND COHESIVE POLITICAL ORDER IN HER BELOVED HOMELAND, HIS HOLINESS COMMENDS HER NOBLE SOUL TO THE ETERNAL MERCIES OF GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. HE LIKEWISE REMEMBERS HER AS A WOMAN OF DEEP AND UNWAVERING FAITH AND THUS HE PRAYS THAT THE SAME FAITH AND HOPE WHICH GUIDED HER LIFE WILL NOW COME TO ABUNDANT FULFILLMENT. INVOKING UPON ALL THE FILIPPINO PEOPLE AN OUTPOURING OF DIVINE GRACES, THE HOLY FATHER CORDIALLY IMPARTS HIS APOSTOLIC BLESSING TO ALL TAKING PART IN THE MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL, AS A PLEDGE OF CONSOLATION, STRENGTH AND PEACE IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

CARDINAL TARCISIO BERTONE

SECRETARY OF STATE.

[01180-02.01] [Original text: English]

[B0500-XX.01]