WASHINGTON, DC (July 28, 2011) — The following statement is being released by Sr. Carol Keehan, DC, president and chief executive office of the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA):

The death of Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S., is a great loss to the Church, especially in the United States.

Archbishop Sambi was a wonderful and joyful servant of his Lord. He loved the Church in the United States and was loved in return.

Archbishop Sambi was always solicitous about Catholic health care, always making time to discuss our concerns and issues. He often told me how it saddened him when he visited a city and was told "this used to be a Catholic hospital." He was committed to maintaining a vibrant Catholic health ministry in this country.

He was a joy to work with and honored the Catholic Health Association with a special role during Pope Benedict's visit to the United States.

We thank God for blessing the United States with his presence and pray that the angels will welcome his great soul into paradise.

The Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA), founded in 1915, supports the Catholic health ministry’s commitment to improve the health status of communities and create quality and compassionate health care that works for everyone. The Catholic health ministry is the nation's largest group of not-for-profit health systems and facilities that, along with their sponsoring organizations, employ more than 750,000 women and men who deliver services combining advanced technology with the Catholic caring tradition.