The following is the telegram of condolence sent by the Holy Father Francis on the death yesterday, Friday 15 March, of His Eminence Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum”, of the Title of San Lorenzo in Piscibus, to the late cardinal’s nephews Klaus and Rainer Baumgardt:

Telegram of the Holy Father

TO MESSRS
KLAUS AND RAINER BAUMGARDT

ON LEARNING OF THE PASSING OF YOUR DEAR UNCLE, CARDINAL PAUL JOSEF CORDES, I EXPRESS MY CLOSENESS TO YOU, TO THE OTHER RELATIVES, AND TO THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PADERBORN, OF WHICH HE WAS AN ESTEEMED PRESBYTER AND, LATER, ZEALOUS AUXILIARY BISHOP. I REMEMBER WITH AFFECTION THIS BROTHER WHO SERVED THE LORD AND THE CHURCH FAITHFULLY AND GENEROUSLY, ATTENTIVE TO THE DEMANDS OF THE WORLD OF THE YOUNG AND THE NEEDS OF FRAGILE PEOPLE, TO WHOM HE COMMUNICATED CHRIST’S LOVE AND TENDERNESS. I THINK WITH GRATITUDE OF HIS DILIGENT COLLABORATION FOR MANY YEARS WITH THE HOLY SEE, FIRST AS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE LAITY AND THEN AS PRESIDENT OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL COR UNUM, WHERE HE SPARED NO ENERGY IN BEARING WITNESS TO THE POPE’S PATERNAL CARE FOR THE POOREST. I RAISE PRAYERS TO THE LORD THAT, BY THE INTERCESSION OF THE VIRGIN MARY, HE MAY WELCOME THIS FAITHFUL SERVANT AND PASTOR IN THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, AND I SENT MY HEARTFELT BLESSING TO THOSE WHO MOURN HIS EARTHLY PASSING.

FRANCISCUS

From the Vatican, 16 March 2024