The following is the telegram of condolence sent by the Holy Father Leo XIV to His Majesty King Charles III on the occasion of the funeral of Her Royal Highness Katharine, Duchess of Kent:

Telegram of the Holy Father

HIS MAJESTY KING CHARLES III

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

LONDON

I WAS SADDENED TO LEARN OF THE DEATH OF HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF KENT, AND I SEND HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES, TOGETHER WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERFUL CLOSENESS, TO YOUR MAJESTY, THE MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY, AND ESPECIALLY TO HER HUSBAND, THE DUKE OF KENT, AND THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN AT THIS TIME OF SORROW. ENTRUSTING HER NOBLE SOUL TO THE MERCY OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, I READILY ASSOCIATE MYSELF WITH ALL THOSE OFFERING THANKSGIVING TO ALMIGHTY GOD FOR THE DUCHESS’S LEGACY OF CHRISTIAN GOODNESS, SEEN IN HER MANY YEARS OF DEDICATION TO OFFICIAL DUTIES, PATRONAGE OF CHARITIES, AND DEVOTED CARE FOR VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN SOCIETY. TO ALL WHO MOURN HER LOSS, IN THE SURE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION, I WILLINGLY IMPART MY APOSTOLIC BLESSING AS A PLEDGE OF CONSOLATION AND PEACE IN THE RISEN LORD.

LEO PP. XIV