Pope 'deeply saddened' by 'senseless' assassination of Shinzo Abe

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis has offered his "heartfelt condolences" to the loved ones of Shinzo Abe, the former Prime Minister of Japan, in the wake of his assassination on Friday.

Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, sent the telegram expressing the Pope's condolences to the Asian country's Apostolic Nuncio, Leo Boccardi.

The Holy Father expressed his "deep sadness" at learning of the assassination of the former prime minister, and offered his "heartfelt condolences" to Abe's family and friends, and to the people of Japan.

"In the wake of this senseless act," the Pope prayed "that Japanese society will be strengthened in its historic commitment to peace and nonviolence."

Japan's longest-serving modern leader was gunned down on Friday while making a campaign speech.

On Saturday, there has been a steady stream of mourners visiting the assassination scene.

Already on Friday, in an interview on Italian television, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, remembered the Prime Minister, saying he was deeply saddened by his death.

"The attack and his death fill me with deep sadness,” he said. “I had the honor of meeting the prime minister when I visited Japan. He was a man who had a great influence beyond Japan's borders. He was a very controversial person as well, however, a man of principles, a man with a great sense of the common good of his people."

The Holy Father made an Apostolic Journey to Japan in 2019.

Here is the original English text of the telegram:

The Most Reverend Leo Boccardi

Apostolic Nuncio in Japan

Tokyo

His Holiness Pope Francis was deeply saddened to learn of the assassination of Mr Shinzo Abe, former Prime Minister of Japan, and he offers heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the people of Japan. In the wake of this senseless act, he prays that Japanese society will be strengthened in its historic commitment to peace and nonviolence.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin

Secretary of State