The following is the telegram of condolences for the death yesterday, Tuesday 8 October 2019, of His Eminence Cardinal Serafim Fernandes de Araújo, of the Title of San Luigi Maria Grignion de Monfort, archbishop emeritus of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, sent by the Holy Father Francis to Archbishop Walmor Oliveira de Azevedo of Belo Horizonte, president of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil:

Telegram of the Holy Father

HIS MOST REVEREND EXCELLENCY
DOM WALMOR OLIVEIRA DE AZEVEDO
ARCHBISHOP OF BELO HORIZONTE AND
PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS OF BRAZIL

I HAVE RECEIVED WITH REGRET THE NEWS OF THE DEATH OF CARDINAL SERAFIM FERNANDES DE ARAÚJO, AND I WISH TO EXPRESS MY COMMUNION IN PRAYER WITH HIS RELATIVES AND WITH ALL THE FAITHFUL OF THE ARCHDIOCESE IN THIS MOMENT OF MOURNING. I ENTRUST TO GOD’S MERCY THE BELOVED CARDINAL WHO SERVED THE CHURCH WITH GREAT ZEAL, AS A COUNCIL FATHER DURING THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL AND, IN PARTICULAR, BY DEDICATING HIMSELF FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS TO THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BELO HORIZONTE, WHERE HIS MISSIONARY PASSION INCREASED LOVE FOR JESUS CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH IN THE HEARTS OF THE FAITHFUL. I RAISE FERVENT PRAYERS THAT, BY THE INTERCESSION OF OUR LADY OF THE GOOD JOURNEY, GOD MAY WELCOME THIS GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT INTO HIS ETERNAL HAPPINESS, AND I SEND MY APOSTOLIC BLESSING TO THE ARCHDIOCESAN COMMUNITY THAT MOURNS THE LOSS OF ITS BELOVED PASTOR, TO THE CHURCH OF BRAZIL AND TO THOSE WHO SHARE IN THIS HOUR OF SADNESS THAT ANNOUNCES THE RESURRECTION.

FRANCISCUS PP.