The following is the letter sent by the Holy Father Francis to the Pope emeritus for the death of his brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, yesterday in Regensburg, Germany:

Letter of the Holy Father

To His Holiness

Benedict XVI

Pope emeritus

You had the kindness to inform me first of the news of the death of your beloved brother Msgr. Georg. I wish to renew to you the expression of my deepest sympathy and spiritual closeness in this moment of sorrow.

I assure you of my prayer for the repose of the dear departed, so that the Lord of life, in His merciful goodness, may introduce Him into the homeland of heaven and grant Him the reward prepared for the faithful servants of the Gospel.

And I pray also for you, Your Holiness, invoking from the Father, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the support of Christian hope and tender divine consolation.

Always united in adherence to the Risen Christ, source of hope and peace.

Filially and fraternally

FRANCIS

From the Vatican, 2 July 2020