RIP Cardinal Paolo Romeo - Pope Leo XIV Sends Condolences on the Death of the Archbishop Emeritus of Palermo

Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram of condolences,  for the late Cardinal Paolo Romeo, Archbishop Emeritus of Palermo. He died at age 88 on Sunday, Oct. 25, at San Marco Hospital in Catania, after a long illness.

Cardinal Paolo Romeo, Archbishop Emeritus of Palermo and titular of the Church of Santa Maria Odigitria dei Siciliani, was a "dear brother who generously served the Gospel and the Church.”

Pope Leo XIV sent the message of condolences sent to Bishop Antonino Raspanti of Acireale.

Born in Acireale, the Italian prelate was created a Cardinal in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI and would eventually lead the Archdiocese of Palermo from 2006 to 2015.

Cardinal Romeo's funeral will be held on Wednesday morning in the Cathedral Basilica of Acireale.

In Pope Leo’s message of condolences, he expressed his heartfelt participation in the grief of all the faithful and family mourning the late Cardinal, and said he remembers “with affection this dear brother who generously served the Gospel and the Church.”

With gratitude, Pope Leo recalled Cardinal Romeo’s "dedicated ministry," first as a priest of the Diocese of Acireale, then in the diplomatic service of the Holy See, especially as pontifical representative in Haiti, Colombia, Canada, Italy, and the Republic of San Marino, and finally as "devoted Archbishop of Palermo."

The Holy Father concluded by offering fervent prayers to the Lord that He may welcome Cardinal Romeo into His peace, and imparted his Apostolic Blessing to all mourning his passing.

Source - https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-10/pope-leo-xiv-cardinal-archbishop-emeritus-palermo-telegram-death.html

Image - By Paolo Baroli, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6096408