KNOXVILLE –Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop Emeritus of Philadelphia, offered the following statement upon the death of  Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua:

On the death of Cardinal Bevilacqua, I extend to his family my personal and prayerful condolences.  I recall with admiration all his pastoral efforts to serve the people of God in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and I am grateful to him for the fraternal welcome that he extended to me when I succeeded him as Archbishop of Philadelphia.  I now join all the faithful in the Archdiocese in asking the Lord Jesus to give him eternal peace and joy