The Holy Father, having learnt of the death of the Grand Master, Fra’ Giacomo Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto, sent a telegram to express his condolences to the Lieutenant ad interim of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Fra’ Ruy Gonçalo Do Valle Peixoto de Villas Boas.

Below is the text:

HAVING LEARNT THE NEWS OF THE PASSING OF HIS MOST EMINENT HIGHNESS FRA’ GIACOMO DALLA TORRE DEL TEMPIO DI SANGUINETTO, GRAND MASTER OF THE SOVEREIGN MILITARY ORDER OF MALTA, I WISH TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE ENTIRE ORDER. I REMEMBER THE TOTAL FIDELITY TO CHRIST AND TO THE GOSPEL OF THIS SO ZEALOUS MAN OF CULTURE AND OF FAITH, TOGETHER WITH HIS GENEROUS COMMITMENT IN PERFORMING HIS OFFICE WITH A SPIRIT OF SERVICE FOR THE GOOD OF THE CHURCH, AS WELL AS HIS DEDICATION TO THOSE WHO SUFFER MOST. AS I PARTICIPATE IN YOUR COMMUNAL GRIEF, I RAISE PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INVOKE THE DIVINE GOODNESS FOR HIS SOUL AND ETERNAL PEACE. WITH THESE SENTIMENTS, I COMPASSIONATELY SEND TO YOU AND TO THE GRAND MAGISTRY, AS WELL AS TO THE FAMILY OF THE LATE GRAND MASTER, MY COMFORTING APOSTOLIC BLESSING.

FRANCISCUS PP.