Pope appoints high-level delegation to Romanian patriarch's funeral

Published: 2007-08-01

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI offered his condolences to members of the Romanian Orthodox Church and appointed a high-level delegation to represent him at the funeral for Patriarch Teoctist, who died July 30 at the age of 92. In an Aug. 1 telegram to members of the Romanian Orthodox synod, Pope Benedict assured them of his "spiritual union with all those who mourn the passing of this distinguished and highly regarded church leader." The funeral was scheduled for Aug. 3 in Bucharest. News agencies reported that the principal celebrant would be Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, was to lead the Vatican delegation. Bishop Brian Farrell, secretary of the council, and Archbishop Jean-Claude Perisset, Vatican nuncio to Romania, were the other members of the delegation.

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