The following is the telegram of condolence sent by the Holy Father Francis to Archbishop Bernard Bober of Košice on the death today of His Eminence Cardinal Jozef Tomko, of the Title of Santa Sabina, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, president emeritus of the Pontifical Committee for the International Eucharistic Congresses:

Telegram of the Holy Father

TO HIS EXCELLENCY

ARCHBISHOP BERNARD BOBER

ARCHBISHOP OF KOŠICE

ON LEARNING OF THE NEWS OF THE DEATH OF CARDINAL JOZEF TOMKO, AN ILLUSTRIOUS SON OF THIS LAND, I WISH TO EXPRESS TO HIS FAMILY, TO YOU, TO THE PRESBYTERATE AND TO ALL THE FAITHFUL MY CLOSENESS AND MY CONDOLENCES FOR THE BEREAVEMENT THAT HAS AFFLICTED THE ENTIRE ECCLESIAL COMMUNITY AND THE SLOVAK NATION. IN REMEMBERING THIS ESTEEMED AND WISE BROTHER WHO, SUSTAINED BY DEEP FAITH AND A FAR-SIGHTED OUTLOOK, SERVED THE GOSPEL AND THE CHURCH WITH HUMILITY AND SELF-DENIAL, I THINK WITH GRATITUDE OF HIS LONG AND FRUITFUL WORK IN THE HOLY SEE AS A DILIGENT AND PRUDENT COLLABORATOR OF MY PREDECESSORS. I ALSO THINK OF HIS PRAYERFUL SPIRIT WHICH LED HIM, AT AN ADVANCED AGE, TO REMAIN ASSIDUOUS AT THE DAILY EVENING RECITATION OF THE ROSARY IN SAINT PETER'S SQUARE, RENDERING TO PILGRIMS AND TOURISTS A BEAUTIFUL AND PUBLIC WITNESS OF LOVE FOR THE HOLY VIRGIN. I ASK THE LORD TO WELCOME THIS FAITHFUL SERVANT OF HIS INTO THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, AND FROM MY HEART I IMPART MY BLESSING TO ALL WHO MOURN HIS PASSING, WITH A GRATEFUL THOUGHT FOR THE SISTERS OF MERCY OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL-SATMA'ROK WHO CARED FOR HIM WITH THE UTMOST SOLICITUDE.

FRANCISCUS PP.