MANCHESTER, England (CNS): Catholic leaders have paid tribute to the Queen Mother, who died on March 30 at her Windsor home at the age of 101.
Pope John Paul II sent a telegram of condolence to Queen Elizabeth II, praying that her sadness at the death of her mother would be mitigated by the Easter hope of the resurrection. He prayed the Queen Mother would rest in God’s peace.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor of Westminster, who is head of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, said: “The whole nation and beyond will mourn a great and gracious lady’.
“The Queen Mother bore the virtues so beloved by the British people of courage and steadfastness, and especially through the Second World War in the role of Queen consort,” the cardinal said.
Archbishop Keith O’Brien of St Andrews and Edinburgh, and president of the Scottish bishops’ conference, said the Queen Mother’s “life of outstanding service to others has been an example to many in our own country and around the world”.
“At the same time, her wish to remain active in public service to the end of her long life demonstrated a rugged determination, consistent with her Scottish roots,” Archbishop O’Brien said.
