VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has sent a telegram to Vladimir Putin, expressing his condolences following yesterday’s terrorist attack in Ankara, Turkey which led to the death of the Russian Ambassador, Andrei Karlov.
The telegram follows a call made this morning by His Excellency Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for the Relations of State, to the Russian ambassador to the Holy See, Mr. Alexander Avdeev, to express his condolences for the yesterday’s murder of Ambassador Karlov.
Pope Francis has met with the Russian President in private audience in the Vatican on two occasions, in November 2013, when they discussed the Middle East and problems faced by Christians in various parts of the world, and more recently, in June 2015, when the Holy See stressed the grave humanitarian situation in Ukraine caused by the war.
Here below is the official English translation of the telegram sent to President Vladimir Putin on the pope’s behalf by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
His Excellency Vladimir Putin
President of the Russian Federation
Moscow
His Holiness Pope Francis was saddened to learn of the violent attack in Ankara, which resulted in the death of Ambassador Andrei Karlov. His Holiness sends condolences to all who mourn his loss, and in a special way to the members of Ambassador Karlov’s family. In commending his soul to Almighty God, Pope Francis assures you and all the people of the Russian Federation of his prayers and spiritual solidarity at this time.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Secretary of State
And today we celebrate...