POPE TO PRESIDE FUNERAL MASS FOR CARDINAL RIGHI-LAMBERTINI

VATICAN CITY, OCT 5, 2000 (VIS) - Tomorrow morning at 10, at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica, Pope John Paul II will preside at a concelebrated funeral Mass for Cardinal Egano Righi-Lambertini, who died this morning at the age of 94.

Today Cardinal Angelo Sodano sent the following telegram in Pope John Paul's name to Gianangelo Gandolfi, the cardinal's nephew:

"The Holy Father, informed of the pious death of the dear Cardinal Egano Righi-Lambertini, raises fervent prayers to the Lord for the eternal happiness of the soul of the dear departed. He also recalls, with intense emotion, the long testimony of a priestly life totally consecrated to the glory of the Lord and the service of the Holy See, particularly as apostolic delegate in Korea and apostolic nuncio in Lebanon, Chile, Italy and finally in France, at the same time holding the position of permanent observer to the Council of Europe and always providing an example of authentic pastoral spirit and profound love for the Church. The Holy Father expresses to you and to relatives of the deceased his profound participation in your deep mourning, and sends you a heartfelt apostolic blessing. I add my personal condolences, recalling with grateful affection my venerated superior at the apostolic nunciature in Chile, and I assure you of my special prayers for his elect soul."

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