"We feel sentiments of sadness before the death of the leader of a great Church as well as before a person who has always demonstrated attention, loveliness and understanding for my mission". Those feelings was expressed by Apostolic Nuncio Msgr. Antonio Mennini this morning, who was informed about the death of Patriarch Alexius II by Interfax agency first, and then by Orthodox bishops and priests. Msgr. Mennini recalled the recent visits to Moscow of cardinals Dionigi Tettamanzi (Milan) and Crescenzio Sepe (Naples), as well as André Vingt-Trois. He also recalled the exchange of messages between the Patriarch and Pope Benedict XVI. "They were important stages said the Nuncio for approaching the two Churches". According to the information of the Nuncio, three days should elapse before funeral celebrations. "With archbishop Pezzi added Mennini we decided to celebrate a Mass for the Patriarch at the cathedral next Sunday, at 10 am. As sign of our solidarity (to the Orthodox world), all Catholic believers and priests are asked to take part in that Mass". "The example of Alexius II added the Nuncio has to be taken into consideration in the background of the difficult period through which the Patriarch led the Russian Church, that is, after the fall of communism". (To be continued)
