Vatican City, Aug 17, 2012 / 14:47 pm
The death of the head of the Ethiopian Church has garnered sympathy and sadness from Pope Benedict XVI, who praised the patriarch's ecumenical efforts.
His Holiness Abuna Paulos, who served as the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodox Church for two decades, died at the age of 76 after battling a long illness.
In an Aug. 17 telegram, Pope Benedict addressed the clergy, religious and faithful of the Ethiopian Church, saying that he learned of their leader's passing "with great sadness."
Pope Benedict recalled the patriarch's trips to the Vatican "with satisfaction," especially his 2009 visit when he delivered an address to the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops.