The death of Archbishop Pietro Sambi is a great loss for the Catholic Church, especially here in the United States. Both as a diplomat and a priest, Archbishop Sambi excelled through his gentle spirit and infectious goodness, and the impact of his work as Apostolic Nuncio to the United States will be felt for many years to come.
A churchman who served us with extraordinary spiritual insights, boundless physical energy and a compassionate generosity that reached out in all generations, Archbishop Sambi has been a great model to so many of us of full-hearted love for Christ’s Church and dedication to the Holy See and to the Vicar of Christ.
With word of his death, we mourn Archbishop Sambi’s passing from this world and celebrate his entrance into the next, a reward well-earned during his many years of priestly ministry.
On behalf of the people of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, I extend our prayers for the repose of the soul of our departed Nuncio, and commend his spirit to the care of the loving Father, for whom he labored so generously.