È deceduto alle ore 6.45 di oggi (ora di Tokyo) il Card. Peter Seiichi Shirayanagi, del Titolo di Santa Emerenziana a Tor Fiorenza, Arcivescovo emerito di Tōkyō (Giappone). Le esequie del Porporato si terranno martedì 5 gennaio 2010.
Pubblichiamo di seguito il telegramma di cordoglio per la morte del Card. Peter Seiichi Shirayanagi, inviato dal Santo Padre Benedetto XVI all’attuale Arcivescovo di Tōkyō, S.E. Mons. Peter Takeo Okada:

TO THE MOST REVEREND
PETER TAKEO OKADA
ARCHBISHOP OF TOKYO

DEEPLY SADDENED TO LEARN OF THE DEATH OF CARDINAL PETER SEIICHI SHIRAYANAGI, I OFFER HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO YOU, THE CLERGY, RELIGIOUS AND LAITY OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF TOKYO. I RECALL WITH GRATITUDE CARDINAL SHIRAYANAGI’S UNFAILING COMMITMENT TO THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL IN JAPAN IN HIS MANY YEARS AS PRIEST AND BISHOP, HIS WORK FOR THE PROMOTION OF JUSTICE AND PEACE, AND HIS TIRELESS EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF REFUGEES. WITH YOU, I PRAY THAT GOD THE FATHER OF MERCIES MAY GRANT CARDINAL SHIRAYANAGI THE REWARD OF HIS LABORS AND WELCOME HIS NOBLE SOUL INTO THE LIGHT AND PEACE OF HEAVEN. TO ALL ASSEMBLED FOR THE SOLEMN MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL, I CORDIALLY IMPART MY APOSTOLIC BLESSING AS A PLEDGE OF CONSOLATION AND STRENGTH IN THE LORD.

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

[01961-02.01] [Original text: English]

[B0823-XX.01]