Vatican City, Mar 20, 2018 / 06:38 am
On Tuesday Pope Francis offered his condolences for the death of Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien, the disgraced former archbishop of Edinburgh, who died Monday at the age of 80 in a hospital in northern England.
The Pope's March 20 message was addressed to Archbishop Leo Cushley, who was appointed to head the archdiocese of St. Andrews and Edinburgh in 2013 after O'Brien stepped down following his acknowledgment that he participated in inappropriate sexual conduct during his ministry.
In the brief message, Francis said he was saddened to hear of O'Brien's death and offered his heartfelt condolences to his family and those who mourn him.
"Commending his soul to the merciful love of God our Father, and with the assurance of my prayers for the Archdiocese of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of peace and consolation in our Lord Jesus Christ," he wrote.