7-June-2004 -- Catholic World News Brief
Bern, Jun. 07 (CWNews.com) -
Joaquin Navarro-Valls, the director of the Vatican press office, told reporters
on June 5 that Pope John Paul had learned "with sorrow" about the
death of former US President Ronald Reagan.
A statement released by the Vatican after President's death saluted "the
contributions of President Reagan, who influenced the lives of millions of
people, especially in Europe, but also in his own country." Navarro-Valls
added that the Pope was praying for the deceased American-- with whom he had
reportedly enjoyed a particularly warm personal rapport. The papal spokesman
also reminded reporters that during his exchange of greetings with current US
President George W. Bush the previous day, the Holy Father had sent his regards
to Mrs. Reagan, recognizing that the former President was gravely ill.
Vatican officials, who were accompanying the Pope on a weekend trip to
Switzerland when the news of the President's death arrived, pointed out that it
was during the Reagan Administration that the US first established full
diplomatic relations with the Holy See. They also pointed to the late
President's enormous influence on recent European history, and especially the
end of the Cold War. Vatican officials pointed to Reagan's characterization of
the Soviet Union as an "evil empire," and his memorable challenge to
Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev, issued in Berlin, to "tear down this
wall." Navarro-Valls announced that the Holy See, as well as the US
bishops' conference, would send a representative to the state funeral for Reagan
in Washington.