Pope Francis sent Tuesday a cable of condolences over the death of former Maronite Patriarch Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, noting that he was “a determined maker of encounter, peace and reconciliation.”
In his cable, the Pope said: “Free and courageous, Cardinal Sfeir exercised his mission in a troubled context, and was a determined architect of encounter, peace and reconciliation. An ardent defender of the sovereignty and independence of his country, he will remain a great figure in the history of Lebanon.”
Pope Francis also noted that he has learned with great sadness the news of death of the former Maronite patriarch.