The following is the telegram of condolence sent by the Holy Father to Bishop Cristian Dumitru Crişan, administrator of the Major Archiepiscopal Romanian Greek-Catholic Church, and to members of the Synod of Bishops of the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church, on the death on Thursday 25 September 2025 of His Eminence Cardinal Lucian Mureşan, major archbishop of Făgăraş și Alba Iulia of the Romanians, of the Title of Sant’Atanasio:

Telegram

HIS MOST REVEREND EXCELLENCY
CRISTIAN DUMITRU CRIŞAN,
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE MAJOR ARCHIEPISCOPAL ROMANIAN GREEK-CATHOLIC CHURCH
THEIR EXCELLENCIES, MEMBERS OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS
OF THE ROMANIAN GREEK-CATHOLIC CHURCH

HAVING LEARNED OF THE DEATH OF CARDINAL LUCIAN MUREȘAN, MAJOR ARCHBISHOP OF FĂGĂRAȘ ȘI ALBA IULIA OF THE ROMANIANS, I WISH TO EXPRESS MY CLOSENESS TO THE PRIESTS AND FAITHFUL OF THIS GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH, OF WHICH HIS BEATITUDE WAS FATHER AND GUIDE, AS WELL AS TO HIS FAMILY MEMBERS AND ALL THOSE WHO MOURN HIS PASSING.

I GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR THE EXEMPLARY WITNESS OF THIS FAITHFUL SON OF THE CHURCH, WHO DID NOT FALTER EVER IN TIMES OF PERSECUTION. I REMEMBER WITH ADMIRATION THE DIFFICULTIES AND HUMILIATIONS BORNE WITH COURAGE IN THE YEARS OF TRIAL, WHEN HE CONTINUED TO SERVE CHRIST IN HIS PASTORAL MINISTRY EVEN AT THE RISK OF HIS OWN FREEDOM. HIS PRIESTHOOD, CHARACTERIZED BY EVANGELICAL PATIENCE AND DEDICATION, REVEALED AN UNWAVERING LOVE FOR CHRIST AND THE CHURCH, ENLIGHTENING GENERATIONS OF THE FAITHFUL.

I RAISE MY PRAYER FOR THE SOUL OF THIS GOOD AND VIGILANT SERVANT WHO, FAITHFUL TO HIS MOTTO, WAS ABLE TO OFFER HIS LIFE EVEN IN SUFFERING, SURRENDERING TRUSTFULLY TO THE HEAVENLY FATHER. I TRUST THAT, ACCOMPANIED BY THE MARTYRS AND BY THE BLESSEDS OF THE ROMANIAN GREEK-CATHOLIC CHURCH, HE WILL BE WELCOMED INTO THE JOY OF THE ETERNAL KINGDOM. TO THOSE ATTENDING THE FUNERAL RITE AND TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SORROW OF HIS DEPARTURE, I IMPART MY APOSTOLIC BLESSING.

LEO PP. XIV