The Holy Father has sent a telegram of condolences to Luisa Santandrea, niece of Cardinal Gilberto Agustoni, the former prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura who died yesterday at the age of 96.

The Pope expresses to the relatives of the deceased his profound participation in the mourning of those who knew and esteemed the cardinal, for many years a “sincere and diligent collaborator of the Holy See, in particular as prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, bearing witness to priestly zeal and loyalty to the Gospel”.

“While I raise fervent prayers to the Lord Jesus that, by the intercession of the Virgin Mary, he may grant to the departed cardinal the eternal reward promised to His faithful disciples”, the Pope concludes, “I impart to you and to the religious Daughters of Santa Maria di Leuca, who assisted him, and those who mourn his passing, my apostolic blessing”.