Pope offers condolences and blessing to mourners of Cardinal Szoka

Following the August 20 death of Archbishop Emeritus Cardinal Edmund Casimir Szoka, who served at the Vatican from 1990 until 2006, Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron on Thursday received the following correspondence from Pope Francis...

To the Most Reverend
Allen H. Vigneron
Archbishop of Detroit

Having learned with sadness of the death of Cardinal Edmund Casimir Szoka, Archbishop Emeritus of Detroit, I offer heartfelt condolences to you and the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese. Recalling with gratitude the late cardinal۪s tireless episcopal ministry in Gaylord and Detroit, and his years of service to the Apostolic See and the Vatican City State, I willingly join you in commending the soul of this generous servant of Christ and the Church to the merciful love of God our Heavenly Father. To all who mourn Cardinal Szoka in the hope of the Resurrection I cordially impart my apostolic blessing as a pledge of consolation and peace in the Lord.

Franciscus PP.

Information, photos and videos on the life of Cardinal Szoka, and details regarding his funeral arrangements, are available at www.aod.org.