Memorial Mass for Vatican Nuncio to U.S. Slated for September 14

WASHINGTON—Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), will celebrate a Memorial Mass, September 14, at noon, for the late Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States. The Mass will be at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.

Archbishop Sambi, a Vatican diplomat, died July 27, at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore from post-operative complications. On July 29 and 30, his body lay in state at the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington and was then to be transported to Italy for funeral services.

The Mass on September 14, which is the Feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross, coincides with the fall meeting of the USCCB Administrative Committee. Bishops from around the country will concelebrate the Mass, which will also serve as an opportunity for the diplomatic corps to pay its respects to Archbishop Sambi. As the Vatican ambassador to the United States, Archbishop Sambi was a member of the corps.

In his July 28 memo to the bishops, Archbishop Dolan said the Memorial Mass for Archbishop Sambi stands as an opportunity to express “gratitude for his priestly example and timeless service to the Holy Father and to the Church.”

“Together with Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington; and Msgr. Jean-François Lantheaume, Chargé d’affaires at the Apostolic Nunciature; I invite you to concelebrate the Eucharistic celebration and to join the many faithful who will pray with us in thanksgiving for the life and ministry of Archbishop Sambi, our brother bishop and devoted servant of the Lord,” Archbishop Dolan said.

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Keywords: Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception,United States Conference of Catholic bishops, USCCB