Dear Cardinal Vincent,
I send to you, his confreres and family my deepest condolences on the death of Cardinal Cormac.
Cormac’s death evokes such a depth of sorrow at the absence of that hearty laugh, that face that exuded such a depth of humanity, that lilting voice with its hint of Cork, the story-teller, the grief-sharer, the utterly decent pastor, the all-round good, faithful friend to all of us and to Christ above all. It was good to have him for as long as we did and to have befriended him was a great blessing. He slipped away with characteristic humility, dignity and certainty that his true life’s destiny was only just beginning. His sense of wonder stayed to the end. It is a great and final lesson. God grant him eternal rest and to the rest of us, some of his humour and humanity.
God Bless
Mary McAleese.
