PAPAL TELEGRAM UPON THE DEATH OF QUEEN MARIA JOSE OF SAVOY

VATICAN CITY, JAN 29, 2001 (VIS) - Following is the telegram sent by Pope John Paul II to His Highness, Prince Victor Emmanuel of Savoy, upon the death of his mother, Queen Maria Jose of Savoy, at the age of 94:

"Upon receiving the news of the passing of your beloved mother Queen Maria Jose of Savoy, I extend my heartfelt condolences for the grief which has struck you and your family, assuring you of my spiritual closeness in this time of great trial. While I raise to the Lord, bearer of every recompense, fervent prayers of suffrage that He may welcome her into eternal joy, I invoke for all members of the family the support of Christian hope, and I send as a sign of my deep sharing in this great sorrow a special comforting apostolic blessing in the faith of the resurrection in Christ."

TGR;DEATH; MARIA JOSE SAVOY;...;VICTOR EMMANUEL;VIS;20010129;Word: 160;