U.S. Catholics Mourn Death of Archbishop Sambi; Had Served as Apostolic Nuncio to U.S. Since 2005

The Eurasia Review website reports today (July 29, 2011) that Catholics across America are grieving the loss of Vatican representative to the U.S. Archbishop Pietro Sambi, who died at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore on July 27, as a result of lung complications.

"He had a ready smile, was approachable, and was good with people from every walk of life," Monsignor Walter Rossi, head of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. said.

Archbishop Sambi, 73, was appointed by Pope Benedict in 2005 as the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States.

His funeral will be at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, August 6th -- the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord -- at 2:00 p.m.