Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has expressed deep sorrow at the passing of Cardinal Lucian Mureșan, Major Archbishop Emeritus of Fǎgǎraş and Alba Iulia of the Romanians, describing him as a steadfast shepherd who bore witness to the Gospel even in the face of persecution. Cardinal Mureșan, the spiritual father of Romania’s Greek-Catholic Church, died on 25 September at the age of 94.
In a telegram addressed to Cristian Dumitru Crişan, the Apostolic Administrator of the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church, and to the Synod of Bishops, Pope Leo conveyed his closeness to the grieving Church, the priests and faithful, and to the Cardinal’s family. The Pope remembered him as a “good and attentive servant” who, true to his episcopal motto, entrusted himself completely to the Heavenly Father even in the trials of suffering.
Pope Leo emphasized that Cardinal Mureșan’s priestly life was marked by fidelity and endurance, particularly during the years when the Greek-Catholic Church in Romania was outlawed and its leaders persecuted under communist rule. Despite difficulties, humiliations, and restrictions on freedom, the late Cardinal never abandoned his mission of serving Christ and his people.
The Pope praised his “evangelical patience and dedication”, virtues that allowed him to inspire generations of believers and remain an unshakable pillar for a community tested by decades of repression.
Calling Cardinal Mureșan a “father and guide” to the Greek-Catholic Church, the Pope highlighted his pastoral care, leadership, and witness of hope. Even amid danger, Mureșan remained committed to strengthening the faith of his flock, embodying a spirit of courage and humility that left a lasting imprint on Romanian Catholic life.
The Holy Father recalled that the late Archbishop continued his ministry even when it meant risking his freedom, thereby offering an enduring model of Christian resilience and service.
In his message, Pope Leo entrusted the Cardinal’s soul to the mercy of God, expressing confidence that he would now share in the joy of heaven in the company of the martyrs and blesseds of the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church.
The Pope extended his apostolic blessing to those present at the funeral rites and to all who mourn Cardinal Mureșan, asking that faith and hope in Christ’s Resurrection bring comfort to the grieving community.
Cardinal Lucian Mureșan’s death closes a remarkable chapter in the history of Romania’s Catholic Church. Born in a century scarred by ideological oppression, he stood as a witness to the indestructibility of faith. His life and ministry symbolize the courage of a Church that survived persecution and reemerged to guide its faithful with renewed strength.
For Pope Leo and the universal Church, Cardinal Mureșan leaves behind not only the memory of a shepherd but also the enduring testimony of a believer who carried his cross with trust and dignity until the end.