Pubblichiamo di seguito il testo del telegramma di cordoglio inviato - a nome del Santo Padre - dal Cardinale Segretario di Stato Tarcisio Bertone al Presidente della Repubblica Federale Democratica di Etiopia, S.E. Girma Wolde Giorgis, per la morte improvvisa del Primo Ministro, Meles Zenawi:

HIS EXCELLENCY

GIRMA WOLDE GIORGIS

PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA

ADDIS ABABA

HAVING LEARNED OF THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF PRIME MINISTER MELES ZENAWI, HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI SENDS HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY, TO THE FAMILY OF MR. ZENAWI AND TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF ETHIOPIA. RECALLING HIS MANY YEARS OF LEADERSHIP, THE HOLY FATHER OFFERS THE ASSURANCE OF PRAYERS FOR HIS ETERNAL REST. UPON THE LATE PRIME MINISTER'S FAMILY AND ALL WHO MOURN HIS LOSS, HIS HOLINESS INVOKES ALMIGHTY GOD'S BLESSINGS AS A PLEDGE OF CONSOLATION AND HOPE.

CARDINAL TARCISIO BERTONE
SECRETARY OF STATE

[01067-02.01] [Original text: English]

[B0470-XX.02]