A variety of Catholic leaders have issued statements on the death of Archbishop Pietro Sambi. These statements give some indication of the high regard in which he was held and how much he will be missed.
From Professor Stephen Schneck, Director of the Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies at CUA:
The Holy See has lost a diplomat of grace and charm. By combination brilliant and pious, jovial and savvy, Archbishop Sambi was at the heart of the excellent relations between the administration and the Vatican and will be sorely missed.
From Sister Carol Keehan, of the Catholic Health Association:
The death of Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S., is a great loss to the Church, especially in the United States.
Archbishop Sambi was a wonderful and joyful servant of his Lord. He loved the Church in the United States and was loved in return.
Archbishop Sambi was always solicitous about Catholic health care, always making time to discuss our concerns and issues. He often told me how it saddened him when he visited a city and was told “this used to be a Catholic hospital.” He was committed to maintaining a vibrant Catholic health ministry in this country.
He was a joy to work with and honored the Catholic Health Association with a special role during Pope Benedict’s visit to the United States.
We thank God for blessing the United States with his presence and pray that the angels will welcome his great soul into paradise.
From Catholic University President John Garvey:
The Catholic University of America mourns the passing of Archbishop Pietro Sambi. He was a great friend of The Catholic University of America and a passionate advocate of Catholic education. We were privileged to have him visit our campus on various occasions – from attending an academic seminar to praying with our students. He faithfully attended our annual American Cardinals Dinner, the University’s major fundraiser for student scholarships. It was there that his rapport with our students was apparent. We will always remember his enthusiastic proclamation of the Word, his cheerfulness, and his openness to everyone who crossed his path.
