● TELEGRAMMA DI CORDOGLIO DEL SANTO PADRE PER LA SCOMPARSA DEL CARD. JOHN J. O’CONNOR  

● TELEGRAMMA DI CORDOGLIO DEL SANTO PADRE PER L’UCCISIONE DI 4 OSTAGGI SULL’ISOLA DI BASILAN (FILIPPINE)  

Appresa la notizia della scomparsa dell’Em.mo Card. John J. O’Connor, Arcivescovo di New York, avvenuta ieri sera, il Santo Padre Giovanni Paolo II ha inviato il telegramma di cordoglio che pubblichiamo di seguito:

THE MOST REVEREND ROBERT A. BRUCATO

AUXILIARY BISHOP AND APOSTOLIC ADMINISTRATOR

ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK

WITH A DEEP SENSE OF PERSONAL LOSS I HAVE RECEIVED THE NEWS OF THE DEATH OF CARDINAL JOHN J. O’CONNOR AND I OFFER MY PRAYERFUL CONDOLENCES TO YOU, THE AUXILIARY BISHOPS AND THE PRIESTS, RELIGIOUS AND LAITY OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK. WITH GRATITUDE TO GOD FOR THE CARDINAL’S MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED AND COURAGEOUS WITNESS TO THE GOSPEL AS CHAPLAIN IN THE ARMED FORCES, AS BISHOP OF SCRANTON AND AS ARCHBISHOP OF NEW YORK, I JOIN YOU IN COMMENDING THIS FAITHFUL SERVANT OF THE CHURCH TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER’S ETERNAL LOVE. AS A DEEPLY SPIRITUAL MAN, A WARM AND ZEALOUS PASTOR, AN EFFECTIVE TEACHER OF THE FAITH AND A VIGOROUS DEFENDER OF HUMAN LIFE, CARDINAL O’CONNOR MODELLED HIS OWN LIFE AND MINISTRY ON THE FIGURE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD WHO TO THE END "GIVES HIS LIFE FOR THE FLOCK". THROUGH THE YEARS HE HAS BEEN OF GREAT SUPPORT TO ME IN THE SERVICE OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH, HE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO BUILD BETTER ECUMENICAL AND INTERRELIGIOUS RELATIONS, AND FOR CATHOLICS AND OTHER CHRISTIANS AND MEN AND WOMEN OF GOOD WILL THROUGHOUT THE WORLD HE WAS A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION IN SERVING GOD IN OUR LESS FORTUNATE BROTHERS AND SISTERS. TO THE CARDINAL’S FAMILY AND TO ALL WHO MOURN HIM IN THE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION I CORDIALLY IMPART MY APOSTOLIC BLESSING AS A PLEDGE OF CONSOLATION AND PEACE IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

IOANNES PAULUS PP. II

[01004-02.01] [Original text:English]

Pubblichiamo di seguito il telegramma di cordoglio che il Papa ha inviato in seguito all’uccisione di 4 ostaggi sull’isola di Basilan, nelle Filippine:

THE MOST REVEREND ORLANDO B. QUEVEDO

ARCHBISHOP OF COTABATO

PRESIDENT OF THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE OF THE PHILIPPINES

DEEPLY CONCERNED BY THE SITUATION IN THE SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES, I AM GREATLY SADDENED BY THE NEWS OF THE KILLING OF VARIOUS HOSTAGES, INCLUDING A CATHOLIC PRIEST, FATHER RUEL GALLARDO, ON BASILAN ISLAND, AND I AM PARTICULARLY CLOSE TO ALL OF YOU IN THESE DAYS. I EXTEND HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO DIED AND ASSURE THEM OF MY PRAYERS IN THIS TIME OF SADNESS AND LOSS. MY THOUGHTS ALSO TURN TO THE INJURED AND THE REMAINING HOSTAGES, AND I ASK THEIR CAPTORS TO RELEASE THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

I APPEAL TO ALL INVOLVED IN THE CONFLICT IN THE REGION TO RENOUNCE THE WAYS OF VIOLENCE WHICH HAVE CAUSED SO MUCH SUFFERING TO THE CIVILIAN POPULATION AND TO RETURN TO PEACEFUL NEGOTIATION IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE A JUST SOLUTION RESPECTFUL OF THE RIGHTS OF ALL. COMMENDING THE VICTIMS OF THIS TRAGEDY TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER’S MERCIFUL LOVE, I CORDIALLY IMPART MY APOSTOLIC BLESSING AS A PLEDGE OF COMFORT AND STRENGTH TO THOSE IN MOURNING.

IOANNES PAULUS PP. II

[01005-02.01] [Original text:English]