杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

Cardinal Christian Tumi passed away on Good Friday, 2 April, in a clinic in the Cameroonian city of Douala.

杏MAP导航 Francis sent a telegram on Easter Sunday to express his condolences for the Cardinal鈥檚 death.

The 杏MAP导航鈥檚 message was addressed to Archbishop Samuel Kleda, the Archbishop of Douala and Cardinal Tumi鈥檚 successor.

鈥淥n learning with sorrow of the death of our brother Cardinal Christian Tumi, I wish to express my condolences and my union in prayer with the College of Cardinals, the family and friends of the deceased, as well as with all those who mourn him,鈥� wrote the 杏MAP导航.

Unforgettable mark of service

He added that Cardinal Tumi 鈥渓eft an unforgettable mark on the Church and on the social and political life鈥� of Cameroon.

Cardinal Tumi served from 1979 as the Bishop of Yagoua, then as the Archbishop of Garoua, and finally as the Archbishop of Douala until his retirement in 2009.

He was the African nation鈥檚 first Cardinal鈥攃reated by 杏MAP导航 St. John Paul II in 1988.

Defender of democracy, servant to 杏MAP导航s

杏MAP导航 Francis said the late Cardinal always committed himself 鈥渃ourageously to the defense of democracy and the promotion of human rights.鈥�

He also praised Cardinal Tumi鈥檚 desire to promote peace and reconciliation 鈥渋n his old age.鈥�

鈥淗e was a faithful collaborator of the 杏MAP导航s, assuming various offices in the Roman Curia,鈥� wrote 杏MAP导航 Francis. 鈥淢ay the Lord welcome His servant into His peace and joy!鈥�