Metropolitan Kirill Sent His Condolences on the Demise of His Holiness John Paul II, the Pope of Rome

On 3 April 2005, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, sent his condolences on the demise of His Holiness John Paul II, the Pope of Rome                                                                                                              

His Eminence
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals

Vatican City

 

Your Eminence!

It is with profound grief that I express my condolences to you and the Plenitude of the Roman Catholic Church on the passing away in the Lord of His Holiness Pope John Paul II.

 

The many years of the ministry of His Holiness as Primate of the Roman Catholic Church were a most important stage in modern history. The judgements of the late Pope on many problems in the life of society and on the affirmation of the eternal Christian values in and the necessity to revive the moral role of Christians in the secularizing world have always found a favourable response in our Church.

 

The last days of John Paul II were marked by qualities, which have gained him respect of all people. He endured his sufferings with strong faith, thus making millions of people to admire his courage.

 

I sincerely hope that his memory will serve the cause of building up good relations between our Churches and will be the pledge for overcoming the present difficulties.

 

I pray to the Lord Jesus Christ for the repose of the soul of His Holiness Pope John Paul II.

 

With love in the Lord,

 

Kirill

Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad

Chairman

Department for External Church Relations

Moscow Patriarchate 

 

Links:

• His HolinessPatriarch Alexy Sent a Message of Condolences to the Vatican on the Demise of His Holiness John Paul II, the Pope of Rome
• A delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church expresses condolences to the Vatican representative in Russia
• DECR Chairman Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad arrives in Rome
• A delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church attends the funeral ceremony for the Pope of Rome

See also:

• His Holiness Patriarch Alexy Sent a Message of Condolences to the Vatican on the Demise of His Holiness John Paul II, the Pope of Rome

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