Pubblichiamo di seguito i telegrammi di cordoglio per la scomparsa dell’Em.mo Card. Stephen Fumio Hamao, Presidente emerito del Pontificio Consiglio della Pastorale per i Migranti e gli Itineranti, avvenuta ieri a Tōkyō, inviati dal Santo Padre Benedetto XVI al Vescovo di Yokohama e alla sorella del defunto Presule:

THE MOST REVEREND RAFAEL MASAHIRO UMEMURA
BISHOP OF YOKOHAMA

HAVING LEARNED WITH SADNESS OF THE DEATH OF CARDINAL STEPHEN FUMIO HAMAO I EXTEND MY HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND THE FAITHFUL OF THE DIOCESE OF YOKOHAMA WHERE HE MINISTERED AS BISHOP FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES. WITH GRATITUDE FOR THE LATE CARDINAL'S DEVOTED WITNESS TO THE GOSPEL, HIS LIVELY CONCERN FOR THE POOR AND HIS GENEROUS SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH AS PRESIDENT OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF MIGRANTS AND ITINERANTS, I WILLINGLY COMMEND THE SOUL OF THIS PROUD SON OF THE JAPANESE PEOPLE TO THE LOVING MERCY OF GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. TO ALL WHO MOURN HIM IN THE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION I CORDIALLY IMPART MY APOSTOLIC BLESSING AS A PLEDGE OF CONSOLATION AND STRENGTH IN JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR.

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

MRS. TERESA TERUKO UEMATSU 

SADDENED AT THE NEWS OF YOUR DEAR BROTHER’S DEATH, I EXPRESS MY DEEP SYMPATHY TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. I ASSURE YOU OF MY PRAYERS FOR HIS ETERNAL REST AND I ASK OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO GRANT YOU THE CONSOLATION AND PEACE BORN OF OUR FIRM HOPE IN HIS PROMISES. WITH MY APOSTOLIC BLESSING.

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

[01584-02.01] [Original text: English]

[B0588-XX.01]