Vatican City, Sep 3, 2020 / 07:00 am
Pope Francis offered his condolences Thursday after Dutch Cardinal Adrianus Simonis died at the age of 88.
The cardinal led the Archdiocese of Utrecht for nearly 25 years, and is remembered for his dedication to defending Catholic doctrine regarding marriage, the family, and the dignity of each human life. The archdiocese announced his death Sept. 2.
"Commending his soul to the loving mercy of Jesus the Good Shepherd, I join you in giving thanks to Almighty God for the late Cardinal's faithful witness to the Gospel, his years of devoted episcopal ministry to the Churches of Rotterdam and Utrecht, and his valued efforts in the service of ecclesial communion," the pope wrote in a telegram to Cardinal Willem Eijk, the present Archbishop of Utrecht, Sept. 3.
The pope offered his apostolic blessing to all who mourn Simonis in the sure hope of the Resurrection.