Pope sends condolences to Cory Aquino's family

Pope Benedict XVI extended Saturday night his condolences to the family of the late former President Corazon Aquino, who died Saturday morning. The Pope relayed his condolences in a communiqué sent to Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales by Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone. “His Holiness commends her noble soul to the eternal mercies of God our Heavenly Father," Bertone said in the message. Excerpts of the message were posted Sunday afternoon on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines Web site. In his message, the Pope recalled Mrs. Aquino’s “courageous commitment to the freedom of the Filipino people, her firm rejection of violence and intolerance, and her contribution to the rebuilding of a just and cohesive political order in her beloved homeland." Bertone also said the Holy Father remembers Mrs. Aquino as "a woman of deep and unwavering faith and thus he prays that the same faith and hope which guided her life will now come to abundant fulfillment." “Invoking upon all the Filipino people an outpouring of divine graces, the Holy Father cordially imparts his apostolic blessing to all taking part in the Mass of Christian burial, as a pledge of consolation, strength and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ," he said. Meanwhile, former Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican Henrietta de Villa said Mrs. Aquino’s story should be told and retold to inspire everyone. She also urged the “young ones to love our country, to be proud of being a Filipino who sees the truth, speaks the truth and lives the truth." She added that in Mrs. Aquino, “strength and serenity formed a seamless combination (which) was the attraction of grace in her." “If the Philippine government, including Philippine society, ever had nobility, like countries with their kings and queens, that nobility would be none other than Cory Aquino (because) nobility as she lived it and witnessed to it, as her persona defined it meant high moral worth, excellence of spirit and the simplicity of goodness," she said. She added that Mrs. Aquino "was and will always be our exemplar of courage, commitment and irrevocable faith." Last Saturday evening, Papal nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams arrived at the La Salle Greenhills in Mandaluyong City to pay respects to Mrs. Aquino. Adams joined the Mass at the La Salle gymnasium where Mrs. Aquino's body lies in state. Antipolo City Bishop Gabriel Reyes officiated the Mass with Bataan Bishop Socrates Villegas and several priests of different religious orders. The 76-year-old Aquino, icon of people power in the Philippines and around the world, passed away at 3:18 a.m. Saturday. The official cause of death was cardiorespiratory arrest. She was diagnosed with colon cancer in March of last year and was treated with chemotherapy. Last May, she underwent surgery to have parts of her colon removed. She was brought to the Makati Medical Center in June due to loss of appetite. She never left the hospital, as her declining condition sparked a wave of emotion in the country and prompted the widespread appearance of yellow ribbons - on trees, car antennas, and even the Web. - GMANews.TV