CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE PASSING OF HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCH PAVLE

Belgrade, 15 November 2009 - Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II, Crown Princess Katherine, Hereditary Prince Peter, Prince Philip and Prince Alexander expressed their deepest condolences to the Serbian Orthodox Church and the faithful in Serbia and worldwide for the passing of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle, who has surrendered his noble soul to the Lord after serving Him during his life, and after being on the Saint Sava Throne as the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church for 19 years, particularly when the Serbian people were facing very difficult challenges.

"I am deeply, deeply saddened to learn that His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of the Serbian Orthodox Church has surrendered his soul to the Lord. The Serbian people have lost a pious spiritual leader particularly at the time when the future of Kosovo and Metohija, the cradle of the Serbian Orthodox Church, remains uncertain. My family joins me in expressing our deepest condolences and sympathy to the Serbian Orthodox Church and all its faithful in Serbia and worldwide and all citizens of Serbia.