Pubblichiamo di seguito il testo del telegramma di cordoglio inviato dal Santo Padre Giovanni Paolo II, tramite il Cardinale Angelo Sodano, Segretario di Stato, in seguito al brutale assassinio del Rev.do Padre Rufus Halley, missionario dei Padri Colombani, avvenuto nell’Isola di Mindanao, nel sud delle Filippine, il 28 agosto scorso:

THE VERY REVEREND EDWIN A. DE LA PEÑA

PRELATE OF MARAWI

DEEPLY SADDENED TO LEARN OF THE BRUTAL MURDER OF THE REVEREND RUFUS HALLEY, THE HOLY FATHER SENDS HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND TO THE COLUMBAN FATHERS, TO THE PRIESTS, RELIGIOUS AND LAITY OF MARAWI AND TO FATHER HALLEY’S FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN IRELAND. IN GIVING THANKS TO GOD FOR FATHER HALLEY’S DEVOTED SERVICE AS A MISSIONARY, HIS HOLINESS IS CONFIDENT THAT HIS MEMORY WILL INSPIRE THOSE WHOM HE SERVED TO EVER GREATER FIDELITY TO CHRIST AND MORE INTENSE COMMITMENT TO THE CAUSE OF PEACE. INVOKING THE COMFORTING GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT UPON ALL WHO MOURN IN THE HOPE OF RESURRECTION, HIS HOLINESS COMMENDS FATHER HALLEY’S NOBLE SOUL TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER’S MERCY AND LOVE, AND TO ALL GATHERED FOR THE SOLEMN FUNERAL RITE HE CORDIALLY IMPARTS HIS APOSTOLIC BLESSING AS A PLEDGE OF STRENGTH AND PEACE.

CARDINAL ANGELO SODANO

SECRETARY OF STATE

[01373-02.01] [Original text: English]