VATICAN CITY, DEC. 13, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI sent telegrams of condolence on hearing of the death of Cardinal Alfons Stickler, former archivist and librarian of the Vatican Secret Archives and Library. The cardinal died Wednesday at age 97.
The papal telegrams were sent to the cardinal's brother and sisters, and to Father Pascual Chavez Villanueva, major rector of the Salesian Society of St. John Bosco, of which Cardinal Stickler was a member. The Austrian native was the oldest member of the College of Cardinals.
The Holy Father described the cardinal as a "sincere and zealous collaborator of the Holy See" who in all his duties "provided precious testimony of fervent faithfulness to Christ and to the Church." He also mentioned the "cultural and ecclesial industriousness of the distinguished jurist and illustrious cardinal."
Benedict XVI also sent a telegram to Cardinal Severino Poletto, archbishop of Turin, Italy, expressing his sorrow over a recent industrial accident in the city's Thyseen-Krupp factory in which four workers lost their lives. The funerals of the victims were scheduled for today.
In the telegram, the Pope expressed his hope "that all means be used to safeguard the dignity and safety of workers," and united himself to the suffering of the victims' families.
