Pope Francis' Telegram of Condolence on Death of Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly | ZENIT - The World Seen From Rome

Vatican City, April 09, 2014 (Zenit.org)







Here is the telegram sent by Pope Francis' message of condolence upon hearing of the news of the death of His Beatitude Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, Patriarch Emeritus of Babylon of the Chaldeans. Cardinal Delly passed away at a San Diego hospital this morning.




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

(April 09, 2014) © Innovative Media Inc.

Pope Francis' Telegram of Condolence on Death of Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly | ZENIT - The World Seen From Rome






VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis praised the dedication of the retired patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, Cardinal Emmanuel-Karim Delly, 86, who died April 8 in a hospital in San Diego, according to the California-based Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle.

In a telegram of condolence to Patriarch Louis Sako of Baghdad, Pope Francis recalled "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."

The cardinal had already retired as an archbishop serving in the patriarchal curia of Baghdad when, in December 2003, he was elected patriarch just eight months after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. He became one of the most notable voices of suffering Iraqi Christians and repeatedly pleaded with countries to take pity on Iraqi refugees and not send them back home.

Patriarch Sako, who succeeded Cardinal Delly, told the Vatican's Fides news agency, "Cardinal Delly served the Chaldean church with dedication for more than 60 years, first as a priest, then as a bishop and as patriarch. He went through very difficult periods, including after the revolution in 1958, the wars of recent decades and the persecution of Christians that followed the U.S. invasion."

"Throughout that whole time, he remained faithful to his country and his people, and not abandoning his flock, he remained with his faithful praying, helping and encouraging," Patriarch Sako said.

The patriarch told Fides that a solemn memorial Mass would be celebrated for the cardinal in St. Joseph Cathedral in Baghdad, but the funeral probably would be celebrated in the United States where most of the cardinal's family lives.

Born in Telkaif, near Mosul, in 1927, he was ordained to the priesthood in Rome in 1952. He earned a master's degree in philosophy from the Pontifical Urbanian University and a doctorate in theology and another in canon law from the Pontifical Lateran University.

Ordained a bishop in 1963, he attended the second, third and fourth sessions of the Second Vatican Council. He was named an archbishop in 1967 and Pope Benedict XVI made him a cardinal in 2007.

Cardinal Delly's death leaves the College of Cardinals with 216 members, 119 of whom are younger than 80 and therefore eligible to vote in a conclave.