Cardinal Vincent has mourned the death of Sir Terry Wogan, who died on Sunday after a short battle with cancer.
In a tweet, the Archbishop of Westminster said he joined millions of people in remembering the popular TV and radio presenter who has passed away at the age of 77.
Along with millions today I mourn the loss of Terry Wogan. I pray the Lord will receive him into his heavenly home there to be at peace.
On Sunday, Sir Terry’s family released a short statement in which it was announced he had died “after a short but brave battle with cancer”.
“He passed away surrounded by his family. While we understand he will be missed by many, the family ask that their privacy is respected at this time,” the statement said.
Sir Terry was a self-confessed atheist, however, one of the last people to visit him before his death was Catholic priest and lifelong friend, Fr Brian D’Arcy, according to the Daily Telegraph.
“I was a desperately sad scene. It was the kind of sadness I haven’t experienced, possibly outside my own parents death. Leaving the house I knew I would never see him again. Naturally enough what went on between the pastor and the patient will remain private but we had prayers for the family and Terry,” Fr D’Arcy, who presented Pause for Thought on Sir Terry’s Radio 2 breakfast show, told the Telegraph.
He added: “Terry had great respect for all religions, he would find structured religion difficult but he had a deep spirituality and a great, innate goodness and a conviction you ought to use your gifts for the benefit of mankind and he did that right to the end.”
Along with his successful Radio 2 show, Sir Terry also hosted the Wogan chat show on BBC One, Children in Need and provided commentary for the Eurovision song contest. He was knighted in 2005.
Prime Minister David Cameron said that “Britain has lost a huge talent”, adding that Sir Terry was “someone millions came to feel was their own special friend”.
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