STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER

April 7, 2003
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien expressed his sadness today following the news of the death of Cardinal Gerald Emmett Carter:

"Canadians will mourn the passing of this great man whose leadership of his Church and his community will be missed by those of all faiths. Cardinal Carter devoted his life to the Roman Catholic Church as priest, bishop, archbishop and cardinal. He was a teacher and an academic of vision who saw his Church as an instrument of good and demonstrated this belief through his work on behalf of the homeless and the poor. A man of keen intelligence and wit, Cardinal Carter welcomed openness and debate on moral, social, and political issues. His contributions to the Roman Catholic Church and to Canada will always be remembered."

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