Pope Francis "saddened" by death of Cardinal Baum

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a telegram expressing his sadness upon the death of Cardinal William Wakefield Baum, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington.

In his message to the current Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the Holy Father offered his “heartfelt condolences, together with the assurance of my prayers, to you and to all the faithful of the Archdiocese.”

Pope Francis also expressed his gratitude for Cardinal Baum’s service to the Church, both in diocesan leadership, as well as his various duties in the Vatican.

The full text of the telegram from Pope Francis is below

 

His Eminence Cardinal Donald Wuerl

Archbishop of Washington

 

I was saddened to learn of the death of Cardinal William Wakefield Baum, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, and I offer my heartfelt condolences, together with the assurance of my prayers, to you and to all the faithful of the Archdiocese.  With gratitude for the late Cardinal’s years of episcopal service in Springfield-Cape Girardeau and in Washington, and for his long service to the Apostolic See as Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education and subsequently Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary, I join you in commending the late Cardinal’s soul to God the Father of mercies.  To all present at the Mass of Christian Burial and to all who mourn Cardinal Baum in the hope of the Resurrection, I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of strength and consolation in the Lord.

                                                                                                                             FRANCISCUS PP.