Posted February 1, 2012

VATICAN CITY — The Holy Father has sent a telegram to Archbishop Charles Chaput,
O.F.M. Cap.  for the death of Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, former archbishop of that
archdiocese who died Jan. 31 at the age of 88. The Holy Father writes:

“Having learned with sadness of the death of Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua,
archbishop emeritus of Philadelphia, I offer my heartfelt condolences to you
and to all the faithful of the archdiocese. I join you in commending the
late cardinal’s soul to God, the Father of mercies, with gratitude for his
years of episcopal ministry among Christ’s flock in Philadelphia, his
longstanding commitment to social justice and the pastoral care of
immigrants, and his expert contribution to the revision of the Church’s law
in the years following Vatican Council II. To you, and to all the clergy,
religious and laity of the Church in Philadelphia, and to the members of his
family, I cordially impart my apostolic blessing as a pledge of consolation
and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.”