• April 15
  A Pontifical Requiem Mass of Christian Burial for Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy is going to be celebrated on Monday, April 19, 2021, at St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, Australia, at 10:30 a.m. The late Cardinal will be buried in the crypt of the Cathedral in the same tomb where rest the remains of Cardinal Edward Bede Clancy, Archbishop emeritus of Sydney, who was ordained priest together with him in 1949.

• April 14
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Holy Father sent Adolfo Tito Yllana, Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, a telegram of condolence for the death, occurred on Saturday April 10, of Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy, President emeritus of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, of the Title of Santa Maria in Via Lata.

• April 10
  Vatican News informed that Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy, President emeritus of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, died today in Newcastle, Australia, around 2 p.m. local time. A few days ago he had been hospitalized after falling and breaking a bone. He had an operation, but he was already very weak. He was 96 years old.
  After the death of Cardinal Cassidy, the number of Cardinals is 225. The Cardinal electors are 126; and the Cardinal non-electors are now 99.

• April 7
  Cameroon-Info.Net reported that the funeral program for the late Cameroonian Cardinal Christian Wygham Tumi was made public this Wednesday, April 7, 2021 through a press release signed by Father Timothée Ouwe, the Chancellor Secretary of the Archdiocese of Douala. The late Cardinal will not be buried in Kikaikelaki, the village in the Bui Department, in the Northwest Region, where he was born. The late Cardinal will be buried on Tuesday April 20, 2021 in the bishops' vault, located in the cemetery of the Bonadibong district, in front of the Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul Cathedral of Douala.

  The funeral program was published on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. “His Excellency Monsignor Samuel Kleda, Metropolitan Archbishops of Douala, informs the entire Christian community, friends and acquaintances, that the funeral of His Eminence Christian Cardinal Tumi, will take place on April 19 and 20, 2021 in Douala. The detailed program of this celebration will be communicated to us later".

• April 6
  Additional bibliographic details have been included in the biographical entries of Cardinals Francesco Todeschini-Piccolomini (1460); Pietro Riario, O.F.M.Conv. (1471); Reginald Pole (1536) and Henrique de Portugal (1545), kindly provided by Mr. Mark West, from London.

• April 4
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that after learning the news of the death of Cardinal Christian Wygham Tumi, Archbishop emeritus of Douala, Cameroon, of the Title of Santi Martiri dell’Uganda a Poggio Ameno, the Holy Father sent Samuel Kleda, Archbishop of Douala, a telegram of condolence.

• April 3
  Actu Cameroun informed that Cardinal Christian Wiyghan Tumi, Archbishop emeritus of Douala, Cameroun, died at 1:15 a.m. in his residence, where he had returned yesterday after having been interned in a private clinic in Douala for a week.
  After the death of Cardinal Tumi the number of Cardinals is 226. The Cardinal electors are 126; and the Cardinal non-electors are now 100.

• April 2
  Biographical entries of Quasi-Cardinals Alexandre-Vincent Jandel, O.P. (1863); Benedetto Bonazzi, O.S.B. (1915) and Giovanni Battista Dellepiane (1962) have been included in the cardinals' site, kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta.

• March 25
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Holy Father named Archbishop of Manila, Philippines, Cardinal Jose Fuerte Advincula, trasferring him from the Metropolitan See of Capiz.

• March 24
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Holy Father issued a Motu Proprio cutting the salaries of Cardinals and department heads due to the Covid crisis.
  Beginning April 1, 2021, the salaries of Cardinals will be reduced by 10%, department heads and secretaries by 8%, clergy and religious by 3%.

  All employees will have automatic seniority pay increases frozen until 2023, except for lay employees with paygrade levels one to three.

  This will only affect lay employees with paygrade level four and above, and not those with the lowest salaries. Vatican pay grades go from levels 1-10 for most employees.

  The reductions will not be applied in exceptional cases where health expenses are involved.
  These measures will be applied also by the Vicariate of Rome; the Chapters of the Papal Basilicas of San Pietro in Vaticano, San Giovanni in Laterano and Santa Maria Maggiore; the Fabbrica di San Pietro; and the Basilica of San Paolo fuori le Mura.
  Cardinals who work at the Vatican and there are believed to get salaries of about 4,000-5,000 Euros a month ($4,725-$5,907). Many live in subsidised accommodation. Most priests and nuns who work at the Vatican have small allowances - but live in religious houses, parishes or schools, so most of their expenses are covered. The Pope does not receive a salary - but all his expenses are paid.

• March 13
  Additional information has been included in the biographical entries of Cardinals Donato Maria Dell'Olio (1901); José da Cruz Policarpo (2001); and Quasi-cardinals Juan Cayetano José María Gómez de Portugal y Solís (1850); José Hipólito Salas y Toro (1868); Augusto Negroni, S.J. (1875); Agapito Panici (1901); Diomede Panici (1909) and Diego Venini (1960), kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta.

• March 11
  Additional information has been included in the biographical entries of Cardinals Agostino Bausa, O.P. (1887); Louis Billot, S.J. (1911); Alfonso Maria Mistrangelo, Sch.P. (1915); Pietro LaFontaine (1916); Oreste Giorgi (1916); Franz Ehrle, S.J. (1922); Vincenzo La Puma (1935); Pierre Petit de Julleville (1946); Norman Thomas Gilroy (1946); Valerian Gracias (1953); Gustavo Testa (1959); Carlo Grano (1967); Giovanni Benelli (1977); Virgilio Noè (1991); Roberto Tucci, S.J. (2001); Jean-Louis Tauran (2003); Urbano Navarrete Cortés, S.J. (2007); Karl Josef Becker, S.J. (2012); and Sergio Obeso Rivera (2018), kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta.

• March 10
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Holy Father named members of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America Cardinals Orani João Tempesta, O.Cist, Archbishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Carlos Osoro Sierra, Archbishop of Madrid, Spain.

• March 8
  Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier, O.F.M., Archbishop of Durban, South Africa, turned eighty years old and, according to the regulation in the seventh paragraph of the introduction of the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici gregis, lost the right to participate in the Conclave.
  The number of Cardinals is 227. The Cardinal electors are now 126; and the Cardinal non-electors are now 101.

• March 5
  Additional information has been included in the bigraphical entries of Cardinals Albin Dunajewski (1890); Giovanni Battista Casali del Drago (1899); Franz von Bettinger (1914); Aurelio Galli (1923); Sebastião Leme da Silveira Cintra (1930); Pietro Fumasoni Biondi (1933); Augusto Álvaro da Silva (1953); Giuseppe Fietta (1958); Giuseppe Antonio Ferretto (1961); Lawrence Joseph Shehan (1965); Nicolás Fasolino (1967); James Darcy Freeman (1973); Édouard Gagnon, P.S.S. (1985); Angelo Felici (1988); and Johannes Joachim Degenhardt (2001), kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta.

• March 4
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Holy Father named Members of the Congregation for Bishops Cardinals Sérgio da Rocha, Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, and Joseph William Tobin, C.SS.R., Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, United States of America.

• February 27
  Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako, Archbishop emeritus of Khartoum, Sudan, turned eighty years old and, according to the regulation in the seventh paragraph of the introduction of the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici gregis, lost the right to participate in the Conclave.
  The number of Cardinals is 227. The Cardinal electors are now 127; and the Cardinal non-electors are now 100.

• February 22
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Holy Father named Members of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See Cardinals Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of the Human Integral Development, and Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

• February 20
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Holy Father accepted the resignation from the post of Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments presented by Cardinal Robert Sarah.
  The Press Office also informed that the Holy Father accepted the resignation from the charges of Vicar General of His Holiness for Vatican City, Archpriest of the Papal Vatican Basilica, and President of the Fabric of Saint Peter's Basilica presented by Cardinal Angelo Comastri and has named to those charges Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, O.F.M. Conv., former Custode General of the Sacred Convent of Saint Francis in Assisi.

• February 18
  Additional information has been included in the biographical entries of Cardinals Philippe Barbarin (2003) and Jean-Pierre Ricard (2006), kindly provided by Mr. Alexandre Jore, from Versailles, France.

• February 17
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that yesterday afternoon, February 16, 2021, the Council for the Economy met online.
  The participants in the virtual assembly were the President, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Münich und Freising, Germany; the Secretary, Msgr. Brian Edwin Ferme; and the majority of members of the Council: Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier, O.F.M., Archbishop of Durban, South Africa; Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer, Archbishop of São Paulo, Brazil; Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, L.S.P.X., Archbishop of Québec, Canada; Cardinal Joseph William Tobin, C.Ss.R, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, United States of America; Cardinal Anders Arborelius, O.C.D., Bishop of Stockholm, Sweden; and Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi, Archbishop of L’Aquila, Italy; and with them, Professor Charlotte Kreuter-Kirchhof, Dr. Eva Castillo Sanz, Dr. Leslie Jane Ferrar, Dr. Alberto Minali, Dr. María Concepción Osákar Garaicoechea, and the Honorable Ruth Kelly, via live connection from their respective countries of residence. Also connected from the Vatican were the Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin; Father Juan Antonio Guerrero Alves, S.J., Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy; Dr. Maximino Caballero Ledo; and Dr. Emilio Ferrara, respectively secretary general and director of the administrative section of the same Secretariat.
  The meeting focused on the discussion of the annual Holy See Budget for 2021, presented in detail by Dr. Caballero Ledo, followed by observations by Dr. Ferrara, on behalf of the Audit Committee. Dr. Ferrara then presented some principles for the application of the two points of the Motu proprio of December 28, 2020, "A better organisation with particular regard to the approval of budgets and financial statements and the appointment of official auditors". Finally, the discussion turned to the statutes of the Audit Committee. The Assembly closed at 6 p.m. and adjourned to the next meeting, scheduled for April 2021.

• February 11
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral government of the Archdiocese of Karachi, Pakistan, presented by Cardinal Joseph Coutts. To succeed him the Holy Father named Benny Mario Travas, until then Bishop of Multan.

• February 10
  Additional details have been included in the biographical entries of Cardinals Mark Sittich von Hohenems (1561), Gabriele Paleotti (1565) and Pietro Priuli (1706), kindly provided by Mr. Charles N. Bransom, Jr., director and editor of Revue des Ordinations Épiscopales, and creator of the site Apostolic Succession & Episcopal Lineages in the Roman Catholic Church.

• February 4
  Proceso Digital informed that Cardinal Óscar Rodríguez Maradiaga, S.D.B., Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, has been admitted to a private clinic after testing positive for Covid-19. His condition is stable.

• February 4
  Additonal details have been included in the biographical entries of Cardinals Francisco de Solís Folch de Cardona (1756); Carlos da Cunha e Menezes (1819); Giovanni Battista Casali del Drago (1899); Aristide Cavallari (1907); Bonaventura Cerretti (1925); Manuel Gonçalves Cerejeira (1929); Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani (1930); Federico Cattani Amadori (1935); Carlos Carmelo de Vasconcelos Motta (1946); Gaetano Cicognani (1953); Amleto Giovanni Cicognani (1958); Peter Tatsuo Doi (1960); Jan Daniélou, S. J. (1969); Paul Yashigoro Taguchi (1973); Marco Cé (1979) and Loris Francesco Capovilla (2014), kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta.

• February 3
  ACI Prensa informed that Cardinal Juan Sandoval Íñiguez, Archbishop emeritus of Guadalajara, México, was hospitalized due to heart failure. In a statement, the Archdiocese of Guadalajara, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, said that "the diagnosis given by the doctors who are treating him indicates that it is a heart failure that is being monitored." The Cardinal, specified the Archdiocese, "was admitted to intensive care and his situation is stable."

• February 1
  Additional information has been included in the biographical entries of Cardinals Joseph Emmanuel de La Trémoille (1506); Filippo Sega (1591); Cesare Baronio, Orat. (1596); Alphonse Duplessis de Richelieu, O.Carth. (1629); Diego Guzmán de Haros (1629); Vincenzo Maculani, O.P. (1641); Domingo Pimentel Zúñiga, O.P. (1652); Leopoldo de' Medici (1667); Orazio Mattei (1686); Pietro Vidoni, iuniore (1816); Francesco Bertazzoli (1823); Giacomo Giustiniani (1826); Luigi Frezza (1834); Fabio Maria Asquini (1844); Francesco de' Medici di Ottaiano (1856); Francisco de Paula Benavides y Navarrete, O.S. Iacobis (1877); Jean-Pierre Boyer (1895); Antonio Agliardi (1896); Francesco di Paola Cassetta (1899); Gregorio María Aguirre García, O.F.M. (1907); Gaetano Bisleti (1911); Francesco Bracci (1958); Sebastiano Baggio (1969); Avelar Brandão Vilela (1973); Giovanni Benelli (1977); Paul Augustin Mayer, O.S.B. (1985) and Friedrich Wetter (1985), kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta.

• January 28
  L'Essentiel informed that the Archbishop of Luxembourg, Cardinal Jean-Claude Höllerich, S.J., has tested positive for Covid-19, indicated this Wednesday the Commission of Episcopates of the European Community (COMECE), which he has chaired since 2018.
  The Cardinal “has been in quarantine for several days,” noted COMECE. His state of health is stable. He faces this ordeal by sharing the sufferings of those who struggle against the disease and of their families ”.

• January 25
  L'Osservatore Romano, Anno CLXI n. 19 (48.642) lunedì 25 gennaio 2021, p. 12, informed that in the afternoon of Saturday January 23, 2021, Scalabrinian Cardinal Silvano Maria Tomasi, special delegate to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM), solemnly took possession of the deaconry of San Nicola in Carcere. Arriving in the Roman church in via del Teatro di Marcello, the Cardinal was welcomed by the rector, Father Aldo Sperolini, who presented him with the Crucifix for kissing and veneration. It was Monsignor Lucio Bonora who read the Papal Bull. Subsequently, Cardinal Tomasi presided over the Eucharistic celebration. Present were the Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development, accompanied by some collaborators, including the assistant secretary Don Augusto Zampini and the under-secretaries Father Nicola Riccardi, Franciscan , and Father Fabio Baggio, Scalabrinian. Also present, among others, were representatives of the SMOM - with the Prelate Bishop Jean Laffitte - and of the Scalabrinian religious family; Monsignor Brian Edwin Ferme, secretary of the Council for the Economy; the ambassador of Italy to the Holy See, Pietro Sebastiani; the SMOM ambassador to the Holy See, Antonio Zanardi Landi; and Vincenzo Buonomo, Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University and president of the Disciplinary Commission of the Roman Curia. The ceremony was directed by Monsignor Marco Agostini, papal ceremoniere.

• January 19
  Additional information has been included in the biographical entries of Cardinals Bessarion (1439); Philibert Hugonet (1473); Raffaele Sansoni Riario (1477); Girolamo Seripando, O.E.S.A. (1561); Giacomo Sannesio (1604); Francesco Sacrati (1621); Berlinghiero Gessi (1626); Vincenzo Costaguti (1643); Johannes Walter Sluse (1686); Giambattista Costaguti (1690); Mario Marefoschi (1770); Bernardino Giraud (1771); Romualdo Braschi-Onesti (1786); Ercole Consalvi (1800); Francesco Fontana, C.R.S.P. (1816); Carlo Maria Pedicini (1823); Ludovico Micara, O.F.M.Cap., (1824); Luigi Bottiglia Savoulx (1834); Gabriele Della Genga Sermattei (1835); Francesco Saverio Massimo (1838); Antonio Matteucci (1866); Agostino Ciasca, O.E.S.A. (1899); Carlo Salotti (1933); Luigi Traglia (1960) and Carlo Grano (1967), kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta.

• January 18
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff informed that on Saturday January 23, 2021, at 6 p.m., Cardinal Silvano Maria Tomasi, C.S., Special Delegate to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, will take possession of the Deaconry of San Nicola in Carcere, Via del Teatro di Marcello, 46, Rome.

• January 16
  Vatican News informed that Cardinal Eusébio Oscar Scheid, S.C.I., Archbishop emeritus of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was buried in the Cathedral of São Dimas, in São José dos Campos, his first diocese, according to his express request. Because of the pandemic, he had no funeral. On Saturday Januery 16, 2021, Cardinal Orani João Tempesta, O. Cist., will celebrate a Mass in suffrage of the soul of the late Cardinal in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio that will be transmitted by Rede Vida de Televisão and also by the official networks of the archdiocese, that is, Rádio Catedral, Webtv Redentor and pages on Facebook and YouTube. The celebration with the clergy of Rio de Janeiro is scheduled for 9 am.
  The 7th Day Mass is scheduled for next Tuesday, January 19, at 6 p.m., in the Church of Candelária. That São Sebastião, patron saint of Rio de Janeiro, asks Cardinal Tempesta, “comfort your family, friends and all those who had the grace of living together. I thank God for the gift of life of Cardinal Eusébio Oscar Scheid and for all the work done in our archdiocese and in all the places he served. May we join in prayers for the eternal rest of Cardinal Eusébio and all of our brothers and sisters who left victims of Covid-19 ”.

• January 14
  After learning the news of the death of Cardinal Eusébio Oscar Scheid, S.C.I., Archbishop emeritus of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, of the Title of Ss. Bonifazio ed Alessio, the Holy Father sent Cardinal Orani João Tempesta, O. Cist., Archbishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, a telegram of condolence.

• January 13
  Istoé informed that Cardinal Eusébio Oscar Scheid, S.C.I., Archbishop emeritus of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, died today in São José dos Campos, in the early afternoon. His health was very poor and his condition worsened after contracting Covid-19 about a week ago, complicated by pneumonia. He was 88 years old.
  After the death of Cardinal Scheid, the members of the College of Cardinals are 227; 128 are electors and 99 are now non-electors.

• January 11
  On Sunday, January 10, 2021, the casket with the remains of the late Cardinal Henri Schwery, Bishop emeritus of Sion, Switzerland, was taken to the parish church of Saint-Léonard, Valais, for lying in state. At noon, the church's doors were opened for visitors, four at a time according to sanitary standards. Over the closed casket were a mitre, stole and his ordination chalice. A condolence book was available in the vestibule for mourners to leave a note of sympathy. The following day, January 11, the funeral Mass was celebrated at the Cathedral of Sion at 10:30 am., presided by Jean-Marie Lovey, Bishop of Sion. Due to the ongoing pandemic, only 50 mourners were allowed to be present. Concelebrating with Bishop Lovey were, among others, Norbert Brunner, Bishop emeritus of Sion; Pierre Bürcher, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chur; Alain de Raemy, Auxiliary Bishop of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg; and Father Jean Scarcella, CRA, Abbot of the Territorial Abbey of Saint-Maurice. The homily was delivered by Bishop Lovey. In accordance with the late Cardinal's wishes, interment was not held at Sion's Cathedral crypt but rather in the small cemetery adjacent to the parish of Saint-Léonard amidst the surrounding vineyards of the valley.

• January 8
  After learning the news of the death of Cardinal Henri Schwery, Bishop emeritus of Sion, Switzerland, Holy Father Francis sent Jean-Marie Lovey, Bishop of Sion, a telegram of condolence.

• January 7
  [24] Heures informed that Cardinal Henri Schwery, Bishop emeritus of Sion, Switzerland, died this morning at Home Le Carillon, in St-Léonard, Switzerland. He was eighty eight years old.
  The burial Mass will be celebrated Monday at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de l'Assomption, Sion, in accordance with current health directives, specified the diocese of Sion. As places are limited, it will not be possible for worshipers to attend the ceremony.
  After the death of Cardinal Schwery, the members of the College of Cardinals are 228; 128 are electors and 100 are non-electors.

• January 4
  Crux informed that Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Papal Almoner, was released from the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, Rome, after recovering from Covid-19.

• January 4
  The Catholic World Report informed that the Polish parliament has declared 2021 the Year of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, in honor of the churchman who helped to preserve and strengthen Christianity under Communist rule.

• January 4
  The Press Office of the Holy See informed that the Pope accepted the resignation from the pastoral government of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nairobi, Kenya, presented by Cardinal John Njue.

• January 2
  The Office of Liturgical Celebrations informed that the taking of possession of the deaconry of Santa Maria del Divino Amore a Castel di Leva by Cardinal Enrico Feroci, scheduled for Monday January 4, 2021, at 12 noon, has been postponed to a later date. The postponement is due to a precaution for the coronavirus pandemic.

• As of January 1, 2021, the members of the College of Cardinals are 229; 128 are electors and 101 are non-electors, having lost their right to participate in the conclave when they turned 80 years old, according to the regulation in the seventh paragraph of the introduction of the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici gregis. During this year, six cardinals will turn 80. They are: Gabriel Zubeir Wako, February 27, 1941; Wilfrid Fox Napier, O.F.M., March 8, 1941; George Pell, June 8, 1941; Maurice Piat, C.S.Sp., July 19, 1941; Beniamino Stella, August 18, 1941; and Angelo Scola, November 7, 1941.

• From January 1 to December 31, 2020, the cardinals' site received 74,938 visits as well as numerous electronic messages with comments, corrections, and additional information. The counter records only the initial visit to the site and not the ones to other sections on the same occasion. On January 1, 2021, the number of visitors to the site since January 1, 2002, was 2,534,200. The site contains the biographical entries of the 4,460 pre-cardinals, cardinals, quasi-cardinals and pseudocardinals identified between 494 and 2020.

©1998-2021 Salvador Miranda.