Pope Francis mourns Cardinal Pedro Rubiano Sáenz of Bogotà

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis mourned Cardinal Rubiano Sáenz, Archbishop Emeritus of Bogota, who passed away at age 91 on 15 April, in a telegram of condolences he sent in Spanish to the current Archbishop of the Colombian capital, Cardinal Luis José Rueda Aparicio.

In his message, the Pope expresses his sadness for the late Cardinal's passing, as he offered his "heartfelt condolences" to all the members of the local Church,his family and all those taking part in the funeral rite.

"As I offer suffrages for the eternal repose of this self-sacrificing Pastor who, by his dedication and work, gave his life for the good of the Church," the Pope reassured, "I entrust him to the maternal intercession of the Virgin of Chiquinquirá."

The Holy Father concluded by imparting his Apostolic Blessing, as a sign of faith and hope in the Risen Christ.

Cardinal Rubiano Sainz, who had been elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope John Paul II in 2001, had served three terms as president of the Colombian Bishops’ Conference, and served as Archbishop of Bogotà from 1994 until his retirement in 2010.