Appresa la notizia della scomparsa dell’Em.mo Card. Antony Padiyara, Arcivescovo Maggiore emerito di Ernakulam-Angamaly, avvenuta nelle prime ore di questa mattina, il Santo Padre Giovanni Paolo II ha fatto pervenire il telegramma di cordoglio che riportiamo di seguito:

THE MOST REVEREND VARKEY VITHAYATHIL

MAJOR ARCHBISHOP OF ERNAKULAM-ANGAMALY

SADDENED TO LEARN OF THE DEATH OF CARDINAL ANTONY PADIYARA, MAJOR ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS OF ERNAKULAM-ANGAMALY, I EXTEND HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES AND THE ASSURANCE OF MY SPIRITUAL CLOSENESS TO YOU, AND TO THE BISHOPS, CLERGY, RELIGIOUS AND LAITY OF THE SYRO-MALABAR CHURCH. IN RECALLING CARDINAL PADIYARA’S GENEROUS AND COMMITTED SERVICE AS PRIEST AND LATER AS BISHOP IN OOTACAMUND, CHANGANACHERRY AND ERNAKULAM-ANGAMALY, I JOIN YOU IN GIVING THANKS TO GOD FOR THE MANY BLESSINGS BESTOWED UPON THE CHURCH THROUGH HIS MINISTRY AND I PRAY THAT THE GOOD SHEPHERD WILL GRANT HIM ETERNAL REST AND BRING HIM INTO THE JOY OF THE KINGDOM. I AM CONFIDENT THAT HIS EXAMPLE WILL INSPIRE ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE SYRO-MALABAR CHURCH TO GROW IN THEIR LOVE OF CHRIST AND TO INCREASE THEIR COMMITMENT TO SERVE THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN A SPIRIT OF CHRISTIAN CHARITY. ENTRUSTING ALL WHO MOURN HIS PASSING TO THE PROTECTION OF SAINT THOMAS THE APOSTLE, I CORDIALLY IMPART MY APOSTOLIC BLESSING AS A PLEDGE OF COMFORT AND STRENGTH IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

IOANNES PAULUS PP. II

[00675-02.01] [Original text:English]