Pope Benedict gives thanks for life of Cardinal Jozef Glemp
(Vatican Radio) Pope Benedict XVI has sent a telegram of condolences to the Archbishop
of Warsaw for the loss of Cardinal Jozef Glemp, the former Primate of Poland and Archbishop
Emeritus of Gniezno and Warsaw who died Wednesday at the age of 83.
In his
telegram to Warsaw Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz, Pope Benedict praised the late Cardinal
Glemp’s exemplary mission in the Polish Church during troubled times, citing in particular
the motto: caritati in iustitia - for charity in justice.
“This episcopal
motto,” wrote the Pope, “accompanied him throughout his life and directed his way
of thinking, evaluating, of making choices, making decisions and his line of pastoral
action.”
Pope Benedict described Cardinal Glemp as a "just man in the spirit
of St. Joseph, his Patron saint.”
“This justice,” the Pope wrote, “full of
humble obedience to the will of God, was the basis of his deep love for God and man,
which was the light, inspiration and strength behind the difficult work of leading
the Church in a period in which significant social and political transformations affected
Poland and Europe.”
“The love of God and of the Church and concern for the
life and dignity of every man made him an apostle of unity against division, harmony
before opposition, of the common construction of a happy future based on past , joyful
and painful experiences of the Church and the people,” the Pope added.
“Continuing
the work of the Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, in constant communion and spiritual bond
with Pope John Paul II,” the Pope wrote “with great prudence, he resolved many issues
and problems in the political, social and religious life of the Poles.”
Pope
Benedict observed that in the last stage of his life, Cardinal Glemp was tried by
suffering “which he endured with peace of mind.”
On a personal note, Pope Benedict
said, “I always appreciated his sincere kindness, simplicity, openness and friendly
dedication to the cause of the Church in Poland and the world. So he will remain in
my memory and in my prayers. May the Lord welcome him into his glory!”