Pope Francis offers condolences after death of Shimon
Peres
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis
has sent a telegram expressing his “heartfelt condolences” to the people of
Israel upon learning of the death of their former President, Shimon Peres. He
died on Wednesday at the age of 93.
“I fondly recall my time with
Mr Peres at the Vatican and renew my great appreciation for the late
President's tireless efforts in favour of peace,” Pope Francis said.
On June 8, 2014, Pope Francis
hosted the historic prayer meeting in the Vatican Gardens with then-President
Peres and the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas. The meeting
came just weeks after Peres welcomed him to Israel during the Holy Father’s May
2014 trip to the Holy Land. The two men had previously met on April 30, 2013,
at the Vatican.
Pope Francis met with Peres
again at the Vatican in September of 2014, two months after he left office. The
two men met for the last time on June 20, this year.
“As the State of Israel
mourns Mr Peres, I hope that his memory and many years of service will inspire
us all to work with ever greater urgency for peace and reconciliation between
peoples,” – Pope Francis continued in his telegram – “In this way, his
legacy will truly be honoured and the common good for which he so diligently
laboured will find new expressions, as humanity strives to advance on the path
towards enduring peace. With the assurance of my prayers for all who grieve,
especially for the Peres family, I invoke the divine blessings of consolation
and strength upon the nation.”
The full text of the
telegram of Pope Francis is below
His Excellency Reuven Rivlin
President of the State of Israel
I was deeply saddened to
learn of the death of His Excellency Shimon Peres, and I wish to convey to you
and to all the people of Israel my heartfelt condolences. I fondly recall my
time with Mr Peres at the Vatican and renew my great appreciation for the late
President's tireless efforts in favour of peace. As the State of Israel mourns
Mr Peres, I hope that his memory and many years of service will inspire us all
to work with ever greater urgency for peace and reconciliation between peoples.
In this way, his legacy will truly be honoured and the common good for which he
so diligently laboured will find new expressions, as humanity strives to
advance on the path towards enduring peace. With the assurance of my prayers
for all who grieve, especially for the Peres family, I invoke the divine
blessings of consolation and strength upon the nation.
FRANCISCUS PP.
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