秋篠宮さま、ローマ教皇追悼ミサに　天皇陛下の名代で参列

　秋篠宮さまは２７日午後、東京都文京区の東京カテドラル聖マリア大聖堂で行われたフランシスコ・ローマ教皇の追悼ミサに、天皇陛下の名代として参列された。
　ミサは都内のローマ教皇庁大使館が主催し、ジョージ・グラス駐日米大使ら約１０００人が参列。会場には教皇の遺影が飾られ、天皇、皇后両陛下からの花輪が供えられた。ミサが終わると、秋篠宮さまは白のカーネーションを献花台に手向け、拝礼した。
　秋篠宮ご夫妻は２０１６年のイタリア親善訪問の際、バチカンに立ち寄り、教皇を表敬訪問。１９年には天皇陛下が、来日した教皇と皇居・宮殿で会見している。
　２１日に教皇が死去し、両陛下は２３日、ローマ教皇庁大使館に別所浩郎侍従長を派遣し弔意を伝達。天皇陛下は同日、教皇代行のケビン・ファレル枢機卿に電報を送り、両陛下の弔意と共に、上皇ご夫妻からの弔意も伝えた。（2025/04/27-17:29）

Japanese Crown Prince Akishino attended a memorial mass for Pope Francis at St. Mary's Cathedral in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on Sunday afternoon, in the name of Emperor Naruhito.
   The mass, hosted by the Apostolic Nunciature to Japan, was attended by about 1,000 people, including U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass. A portrait of the pope, who died on Monday at the age of 88, was displayed at the venue and a wreath from Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako was offered. After the mass, the Crown Prince placed a white carnation on the flower stand and bowed.
   During their goodwill visit to Rome in 2016, Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko stopped in the Vatican and paid a courtesy call on the pope. In 2019, the Emperor met with the pope at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
   On Wednesday, the Emperor and Empress sent Koro Bessho, grand chamberlain to the Imperial couple, to the Apostolic Nunciature to Japan in Tokyo to express their condolences over the pope's death. On the same day, the Emperor sent a telegram to Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican official who takes over the immediate running of church affairs, to convey condolences from him and the Empress and also from Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko.