INDIA/PAKISTAN: INDIAN CARDINAL LEAVES FOR VATICAN AS MOURNING FOR POPE CONTINUES

Record ID: 1372131

  • Title: INDIA/PAKISTAN: INDIAN CARDINAL LEAVES FOR VATICAN AS MOURNING FOR POPE CONTINUES
  • Date: 4th April 2005
  • Summary: (W2) ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (APRIL 03, 2005) (REUTERS) GV/PAN: PRIME MINISTER OF PAKISTAN, SHAUKAT AZIZ, ARRIVING (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRIME MINISTER OF PAKISTAN, SHAUKAT AZIZ, SAYING: "The people of Pakistan are saddened at the sad demise of Pope John Paul, a man of vision, a man of peace and a man who believed in interfaith harmony. He will be long remembered for his contributions for world peace and for getting people together. The people of Pakistan are very saddened at this event and we hope and pray for the departed soul. And there are millions of Catholics in Pakistan too, who have today held special services and have prayed for the departed soul." MV: REPORTER TALKING TO AZIZ Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 29th April 2014 18:18
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ERNAKULAM,KERALA/NEW DELHI, INDIA/ ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
  • City:
  • Country: Pakistan India
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA542PGQPP2QUYEGMPYSW9VZA2X
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Indian Cardinal leaves for Vatican, as hundreds of thousands continue to mourn Pope's death.
    As Asians continued to mourn Pope John Paul II's death, one of five cardinals from India left for the Vatican on Monday (April 4, 2005) to participate in his funeral and chose a successor.
    The conclave to elect a new Pope will start in 15 to 20 days, with 117 cardinals from around the globe gathering in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel for the vote.
    Cardinal Mar Verkey Vithayathil from southern Cochin, who left for the Vatican on Monday, Archbishop Ivan Dias from western Bombay and Cardinal Toppo from eastern Ranchi will join in the vote.
    The cardinals will meet daily before the funeral, but could decide as early as Monday when to open the conclave.
    Vithayathil said that their prime concern would be to chose someone who would be a true witness of the Gospel.
    "Nationality is not the prime concern, it is not the main criterion. We will try to choose the person who we think is the right person before God to guide the church and be a true witness of the Gospel," he said in southern Ernakulam city in southern Kerala, before his departure.
    Cardinals, often referred to as the "princes of the Church", are the closest advisors to the pope and are personally named by him. They are usually archbishops of major dioceses or heads of influential agencies at the Vatican. They outrank all other clergy besides the Pope.
    Meanwhile in the Indian capital New Delhi, Foreign Minister Natwar Singh signed the condolence book at the Vatican Embassy to show his solidarity with the Roman Catholics. India declared a three-day national mourning on Sunday (April 3).
    Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also expressed his condolences at the death of Pope John Paul.
    "The people of Pakistan are saddened at the sad demise of Pope John Paul, a man of vision, a man of peace and a man who believed in interfaith harmony," Aziz told Reuters
    "He will be long remembered for his contributions for world peace and for getting people together. The people of Pakistan are very saddened at this event and we hope and pray for the departed soul. And there are millions of Catholics in Pakistan too, who have today held special services and have prayed for the departed soul," he added.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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