Pope mourns death of former Italian President Cossiga

(Aug.18,2010) Pope Benedict XVI in a message on Wednesday, expressed his heartfelt condolences and spiritual closeness to the family of Italy’s former President Francesco Cossiga, who passed away Tuesday afternoon. 82-year-old Cossiga, a senator for life in Italy, had been admitted to the hospital last week with respiratory problems.
The condolence message addressed to Cossiga’s son and daughter, was sent in the Pontiff’s name by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarciscio Bertone. The message expressed the Pope’s sincere condolences to the family, lauding him as “an important protagonist in Italian national life and a man of faith.”
Another condolence message in the Pope’s name was also sent by Cardinal Tarciscio Bertone to Italy’s President Giorgio Napolitano, expressing the Pontiff’s sincere participation in the grave loss affecting the entire nation. The Pope’s message lauded the dedicated and generous service rendered to the nation by Senator Cossiga, who was president of the Italian Republic from 1985 to 1992.