29/9/1388 [Dec 20, 2009]
In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful,
We learned that the honorable jurist Ayatollah Hajj Shaikh Husseinali Montazeri, may God’s benevolence touch him, has departed from this world and has joined the final resting place. He was a conversant jurist and an exceptional teacher and many students benefitted from him. A long period of the late Ayatollah’s life was at the service of the movement of the late exalted Imam [Khomeini] and he was involved with many struggles and endured many difficulties on this path.
In the end of the blessed life of the Imam, a difficult and dangerous test appeared, which I ask the Supreme Lord to overlook with His forgiveness and compassion and consider [his] worldly misfortunes and trials [ebtelayat donyavi] as atonement. I say condolences for his passing to all who survive him, especially his beloved wife and respected children and wish for divine compassion and forgiveness for him.
Seyyed Ali Khamenei