Pope’s condolence for Syrian cardinal’s death

(April 09, 2012) Pope Benedict XVI has expressed his sadness at the death of Cardinal Ignace Moussa I Daoud of Syria, the former Patriarch of the eastern-rite Syrian Catholic Church and who headed a major Vatican office before retirement. The 81 year old prelate died in a Rome hospital on Saturday. In a condolence message to the Church of Antioch of the Syrians, the Pope said he prayed for the soul of “the faithful pastor who dedicated himself with faith and generosity to the service of God's people.” The Holy Father also remembered the people of Syria who he said “are living through difficult times” – a reference to the uprising roiling Syria. The Syrian Catholic Church is in communion with the Roman Catholic Church but follows the eastern Antiochene rite. Cardinal Daoud was elected Patriarch of Antioch for the Syrian Catholic Church in 1998 and approved by Pope John Paul II. In 2000, the same Pope named him the prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Eastern Churches, a post previously held by cardinals of the Latin rite. He was created cardinal in the consistory of 2001. With the death of Cardinal Daoud, the number of cardinals worldwide now stands at 211, of whom 123 are below the age of 80 and hence are eligible to vote in the case of the election of a new pope.