Pope Benedict XVI praised the late French Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger on Monday as a "great figure" of the Roman Catholic Church in France, and an intellectual intent on improving relations between Christians and Jews.Lustiger, a Jew who converted to Catholicism, died Sunday in Paris at age 80. He served as archbishop of the capital for 24 years before stepping down in 2005.
The pope said in a telegram of condolences that he felt "great emotion" at news of the death of "this great figure of the church in France" and "lucid intellectual."
"A man of faith and of dialogue, he has dedicated himself generously to promoting more and more fraternal relations between Christians and Jews," Benedict said in his telegram, which was sent to Paris Archbishop Andre Vingt-Trois.
A funeral Mass for Lustiger was scheduled for Friday at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce