Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis sent an official letter of condolences to Patriarch Daniel to express his sorrow for the death of Archbishop Pimen of Suceava and Radauti.
In his message, President Iohannis expressed his appreciation for the Romanian Orthodox Church’s role in tackling the new coronavirus pandemic.
Read the full text of the message of President of Romania Klaus Iohannis:
His Beatitude Daniel,
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
Bucharest, May 20, 2020Your Beatitude,
I wish to express my sincere condolences to Your Beatitude, to the high hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church and members of the Holy Synod, as well as to the faithful of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Radauti, for the repose of His Eminence Archbishop Pimen of Suceava and Radauti. It is a moment of sadness for the entire Romanian Orthodox Church and for all the believers who were under the high archpastorship of His Eminence Pimen.
Long-lived personality and graceful shepherd, His Eminence Pimen generously offered himself to the Church and his fellows. He devoted his missionary efforts to preserving the Romanian identity, highlighting, in the country and abroad, the richness of Orthodox spirituality and the valuable heritage of Moldavia’s churches and monasteries.
Evoking the personality of the one lost, I would also like to note that, through prayer and support for those in difficulty, through help for those on the front line, the Romanian Orthodox Church has consistently participated in the national effort to combat the pandemic.
I am confident that in the coming period, under the wise archpastorship of Your Beatitude, the Romanian Orthodox Church will be a support for our society, combining its pastoral mission with the concern for protecting its faithful and hierarchs, for Romania’s speedy return to normalcy.
Sincere condolences, may God rest him!
With high esteem,
Klaus Werner Iohannis
President of Romania
