Pope mourns Vietnamese Cardinal

(24 Feb.2009):Pope Benedict XVI expressed his grief in a condolence telegram on Monday, on hearing of the the death of Vietnamese Cardinal Paul Joseph Pham Dinh Tung. The 89-year-old Cardinal died Sunday, Feb 22 at the archbishop’s residence in Hanoi. His funeral Mass is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 26.
IIn the condolence telegram sent to Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet of Hanoi, the Pope said he was united in prayer with the Archdiocese of Hanoi, the bishops of Vietnam, the faithful of the archdiocese of Hanoi, with the family of the late cardinal, and with all people affected by this loss. The Pontiff called the late Cardinal Tung a distinguished pastor, who in difficult circumstances, was able to serve the Church with great courage and generous loyalty to the See of St. Peter, tirelessly dedicating himself to the announcement of the Gospel.
Placed under house arrest for most of his episcopate, Bishop Pham Dinh Tung was unable to visit the more than 100 parishes in his jurisdiction . He was made a cardinal in 1994 and retired in 2005.
Cardinal Tung’s death leaves the College of Cardinals with 187 members, 115 of whom are under age 80 and therefore eligible to vote in a papal enclave.