Pope Francis sends his condolences to Bishop DiMarzio and the Diocese of Brooklyn

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 14, 2020

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Pope Francis sends his condolences to Bishop DiMarzio and the Diocese of Brooklyn

 

Today the Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, learned of condolences from Pope Francis over the death of two priests serving the Diocese of Brooklyn due to coronavirus.

Timothy Cardinal Dolan, New York’s Archbishop, was speaking to Pope Francis earlier today, and during that conversation, the Holy Father asked the Cardinal to express his condolences to Bishop DiMarzio, the families of the two priests, and the people of the Diocese of Brooklyn over the loss of their two beloved priests.

Pope Francis was referring to Father Jorge Ortiz-Garay, who died on March 27, 2020, and Father Gioacchino Basile, who died on April 4, 2020.

“On behalf of the Diocese of Brooklyn, I am humbled to have received prayers and condolences from our Holy Father, Pope Francis, on the deaths of two of our priests who have been lost to coronavirus. As we continue to mourn the loss of Father Ortiz-Garay and Father Basile, it is comforting to know Pope Francis joins with us in solidarity. We are one church, and together the people of God will get through these most difficult times,” said Bishop DiMarzio.

Photo attached.

Bp DiMarzio with Pope Francis at the Ad Limina Meeting

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Attached is a photo of Pope Francis greeting Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio of Brooklyn, N.Y., during a meeting with bishops from the state of New York in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican Nov. 15, 2019. The bishops were making their “ad limina” visits to the Vatican to report on the status of their dioceses to the pope and Vatican officials

Courtesy: CNS photo/Vatican Media