Funeral of Cardinal Korec draws thousands of mourners

Thousands of people including senior Church and state officials have turned out for the funeral of late Cardinal Jan Chryzostom Korec at St. Emmeram's Cathedral at Nitra Castle on Saturday. The funeral service was presided over by Archbishop of Kraków Stanisław Dziwisz, who highlighted Korec's significance for Slovakia and the Church. "We're bidding farewell to an indomitable pastor. He came to the defence of the dignity of the human personality and the right to live in freedom," said Dziwisz. In his condolence message, Pope Francis also expressed profound grief over Korec's passing away. The pontiff recognised Korec for being a fearless witness of the Gospel and a strenuous defender of the Christian faith and human rights. Bishop Emeritus of Nitra, Cardinal Korec passed away in Nitra on October 24 at the age of 91.