Vatican envoy holds Requiem Mass for late Belarusian foreign minister

November 28, BPN. The Vatican’s envoy, Archbishop Ante Jozić, carried out a Requiem Mass for Belarusian Foreign Minister Uładzimir Makiej in the Apostolic Nunciature in Minsk on November 27, the Roman Catholic Church said on its Belarus portal.

“Archbishop Jozić in prayer entrusts the soul of the deceased Uładzimir Makiej to God’s Grace and expresses condolences to his family, friends and colleagues, praying for comfort for them in this difficult moment of parting,” it said.

The apostolic nuncio last met with the minister on November 25, one day before the top diplomat died. They exchanged thoughts on cooperation between the Vatican and Minsk as well as the Roman Catholic Church’s current situation in Belarus.

The Catholic portal said that the Archbishop of Minsk and Mahiloŭ, Juzaf Stanieŭski, prayed for Makiej during the morning mass on November 28.

Uładzimir Makiej unexpectedly died on November 26, aged 64. He is to be buried at Minsk’s Eastern Cemetery on November 29.