Pope praises late duchess for her charity work, ‘Christian goodness’

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Leo XIV praised the late Duchess of Kent, who joined the Catholic Church in 1994, for her “Christian goodness” and her many years of charity work and care for vulnerable people.

His comments came in a telegram of condolences to King Charles III sent on the occasion of the funeral of Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, the first Catholic funeral for a member of the royal family in modern times.

The text of the telegram, released by the Vatican Sept. 16, was read aloud during the funeral Mass the same day at Westminster Cathedral, according to the BBC.

The duchess was the first British royal to join the Catholic faith since 1685. She was received into the church by the late Cardinal Basil Hume in a private ceremony at Westminster Cathedral.

King Charles, the Duke of Kent and their three children, and other senior royals attended the funeral, which was presided over by Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster.

“I was saddened to learn of the death of Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, and I send heartfelt condolences, together with the assurance of my prayerful closeness, to Your Majesty, the members of the Royal Family, and especially to her husband, the Duke of Kent, and their children and grandchildren at this time of sorrow,” said the telegram, signed by the pope himself.

“Entrusting her noble soul to the mercy of our Heavenly Father, I readily associate myself with all those offering thanksgiving to Almighty God for the Duchess’s legacy of Christian goodness, seen in her many years of dedication to official duties, patronage of charities, and devoted care for vulnerable people in society,” the pope wrote.

“To all who mourn her loss, in the sure hope of the Resurrection, I willingly impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of consolation and peace in the Risen Lord,” he wrote.

The duchess had been the oldest member of the royal family prior to her death Sept. 4 at the age of 92. She married into the British royal family when she wed Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent and the first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1961.

Her decision to become Catholic was supported by Queen Elizabeth, the BBC said.

She was very active in charity work, helping to accompany sick and elderly people on pilgrimages to the Marian shrine of Lourdes, France, supporting a charity for people who are homeless and assisting with an organization providing emotional support to people in emotional distress.

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