The Pontiff’s condolences for death of Iran’s President

Upon learning of the deaths of President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and all who perished in a helicopter crash in northwest Iran, on Sunday, 19 May, Pope Francis sent a telegram expressing his condolences to Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. “Entrusting the souls of the deceased to the mercy of the Almighty”, the telegram reads, “and with prayers for those who mourn their loss, especially their families, I send the assurance of spiritual closeness to the nation at this difficult time”.