Pubblichiamo di seguito il telegramma di cordoglio che il Santo Padre ha inviato al Presidente della Repubblica Ceca, S.E. il Signor Václav Klaus, per la scomparsa dell’ex presidente ceco, Václav Havel, avvenuta il 18 dicembre scorso:

HIS EXCELLENCY VÁCLAV KLAUS
PRESIDENT OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC

HAVING LEARNED WITH SADNESS OF THE DEATH OF FORMER PRESIDENT VÁCLAV HAVEL, I SEND HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES AT THIS TIME OF NATIONAL MOURNING. I JOIN ALL THOSE WHO HAVE GATHERED IN SAINT VITUS' CATHEDRAL FOR THE SOLEMN FUNERAL RITE IN COMMENDING THE SOUL OF THE DECEASED TO THE INFINITE MERCY OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. REMEMBERING HOW COURAGEOUSLY MR HAVEL DEFENDED HUMAN RIGHTS AT A TIME WHEN THESE WERE SYSTEMATICALLY DENIED TO THE PEOPLE OF YOUR COUNTRY, AND PAYING TRIBUTE TO HIS VISIONARY LEADERSHIP IN FORGING A NEW DEMOCRATIC POLITY AFTER THE FALL OF THE PREVIOUS REGIME, I GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR THE FREEDOM THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC NOW ENJOY. AS A PLEDGE OF SPIRITUAL STRENGTH AND COMFORT, I CORDIALLY IMPART MY APOSTOLIC BLESSING TO ALL WHO MOURN IN THE HOPE OF RESURRECTION TO NEW LIFE.

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

[01846-02.01] [Original text: English]

[B0766-XX.01]