Pope offers condolences, prayers for Silvio Berlusconi

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis has offered his condolences and prayers for Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's longest-serving Premiere, who passed away on Monday at age 86.

In a telegram sent on the Pope's behalf by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to the former Italian Prime Minister's daughter, Maria Elvira Berlusconi, in Milan, the Pope mourned the late Italian politician.

According to the Associated Press, Berlusconi was admitted to the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan on Friday, his second recent hospitalization for treatment of chronic leukemia. He also suffered over the years from heart ailments, prostate cancer and was hospitalized for COVID-19 in 2020.

A state funeral will be held Wednesday in Milan's Duomo cathedral, according to the Archdiocese of Milan.

Pope's mourning and prayers

"Pope Francis, having been informed of the death of your beloved father, Senator Silvio Berlusconi," the telegram began, "wishes to extend his closeness to you and your family, assuring you of his heartfelt participation in the mourning for the loss of a protagonist of Italian political life, who held public responsibilities with energetic temperament."

"His Holiness," it continued, "invokes, from the Lord, eternal peace for him, and consolation of heart for those who mourn his passing."

Pope Francis joined in the condolences "with fervent remembrance" in prayer.