Pubblichiamo di seguito il telegramma di cordoglio per le vittime causate dal devastante tornado che ha colpito lo Stato dell’Oklahoma, inviato dal Santo Padre Francesco all’Arcivescovo di Oklahoma City, S.E. Mons. Paul Stagg Coakley, tramite il Cardinale Segretario di Stato Tarcisio Bertone:

MOST REVEREND PAUL S. COAKLEY
ARCHBISHOP OF OKLAHOMA CITY

THE HOLY FATHER HAS FOLLOWED WITH DEEP CONCERN THE AFTERMATH OF THE DEVASTATING TORNADO WHICH HAS STRUCK OKLAHOMA AND HE ASKS YOU CONVEY TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY THE ASSURANCE OF HIS SOLIDARITY AND CLOSENESS IN PRAYER. CONSCIOUS OF THE TRAGIC LOSS OF LIFE AND THE IMMENSITY OF THE WORK OF REBUILDING THAT LIES AHEAD, HE ASKS ALMIGHTY GOD TO GRANT ETERNAL REST TO THE DEPARTED, COMFORT TO THE AFFLICTED, AND STRENGTH AND HOPE TO THE HOMELESS AND THE INJURED. IN A PARTICULAR WAY HE COMMENDS TO THE FATHER OF MERCIES THE MANY YOUNG CHILDREN AMONG THE VICTIMS AND THEIR GRIEVING FAMILIES. UPON THE LOCAL CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS, AND UPON ALL INVOLVED IN THE RELIEF EFFORTS, HIS HOLINESS INVOKES THE RISEN LORD’S GIFTS OF CONSOLATION, STRENGTH AND PERSEVERANCE IN EVERY GOOD.

CARDINAL TARCISIO BERTONE

SECRETARY OF STATE

[00732-02.01] [Original text: English]

[B0319-XX.01]