Pope Francis expresses sadness upon the death of Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has expressed his condolences for the death of Cardinal
Emmanuel III Delly, who led the Chaldean Catholic Church from 2003 to 2012. Aged 87,
he died on April 9 in a San Diego hospital.
Born in 1927, Cardinal Delly was
ordained to the priesthood in 1952 and the episcopate in 1963. In October 2003 he
was elected patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, and Pope Benedict XVI named
him a cardinal in 2007.
In a telegramme adddressed to the current Patriarch,
Louis Raphael I Sako, and signed by Pope Francis and by Vatican Secretary of State,
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope recalled “with deep gratitude” the late Patriarch’s
dedication to his people and to the promotion of inter-religious dialogue.
Please
find below the full text of the telegramme:
To: His Beatitude Louis Raphaël
I Sako Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans
I was deeply saddened to hear
of the death of His Beatitude Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, Patriarch Emeritus of Babylon
of the Chaldeans. I offer you, the clergy, men and women religious and lay faithful
of the Patriarchate, both in Iraq and in the diaspora, my condolences and the assurance
of my prayers. I recall with deep gratitude the late Patriarch’s dedication to his
people and to the promotion of respectful, just and peaceful relations with followers
of other religious traditions. I join you and all who mourn the passing of this esteemed
Pastor in commending his noble soul to the infinite mercy of God our loving Father,
and I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of peace and hope in the
Lord. FRANCISCUS PP.
I offer you, your brother Bishops and the entire Church
in Iraq my heartfelt sympathy on the passing of His Beatitude Cardinal Emmanuel III
Delly. I pray that the Lord whom he served with fidelity will grant him eternal rest. Cardinal
Pietro Parolin Secretary of State