Birth. November 23, 1927, Isola d'Asti, diocese of Asti, Italy. He was the second of the six children of Giovanni and Delfina Sodano; Giovanni was a Christian Democrat deputy in the Italian Parliament for three terms from 1948 until 1963. His batismal name was Angelo Raffaele. The other siblings were Assunta, Piero, Maria and Ausilia.

Education. Studied at the Seminary of Asti; at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, where he earned a doctorate in theology; at the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome, where he obtained a doctorate in canon law; and at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, Rome (diplomacy).

Priesthood. Ordained, September 23, 1950, cathedral of Asti, by Umberto Rossi, bishop of Asti. Pastoral ministry in the diocese of Asti and professor of dogmatic theology at its seminary, 1950-1959. Successively, 1959-1968, further studies, Rome; secretary of the nunciatures in Ecuador, Uruguay and Chile. Privy chamberlain supernumerary, June 16, 1962. Chaplain of His Holiness, June 21, 1963. Official in the Council for the Public Affairs of the Church, 1968-1977.

Episcopate. Elected titular archbishop of Nova di Cesare and appointed nuncio to Chile, November 30, 1977. Consecrated, January 15, 1978, cathedral of S. Secondo, Asti, Italy, by Cardinal Antonio Samorè, bishop of the title of the suburbicarian see of Sabina e Poggio Mirteto, librarian and archivist of the Holy Roman Church, assisted by Agostino Casaroli, titular archbishop of Cartagine, secretary of the Council for the Public Affairs of the Church, and by Nicola Cavanna, bishop of Asti. His episcopal motto was Ut unum sint. Secretary of the Council for the Public Affairs of the Church, May 23, 1988; after the reorganization of the Roman Curia, secretary of the section for the relations with the States, in the Secretariat of State, March 1, 1989. President of the Pontifical Commission for Russia. Vatican representative to the meeting of ministers of foreign affairs of the Conference on European Security and Cooperation held in Vienna, Copenhagen, New York and Paris. Pro-secretary of State, December 1, 1990 until June 29, 1991.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of June 28, 1991; received the red biretta and the title of S. Maria Nuova, June 28, 1991. Secretary of State, June 29, 1991. Attended the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Europe, Vatican City, November 28 to December 14, 1991. Papal legate to the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady, Fátima, Portugal, May 13, 1992. Special papal envoy to the Day of Holy See, Universal Exposition of Sevilla 1992, Sevilla, Spain, June 29, 1992. Papal envoy to the funeral of Cardinal Frantisek Tomásek, archbishop emeritus of Prague, Czech and Slovak Federative Republic, Prague, August 12, 1992. Attended the Fourth General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, October 12 to 28, 1992; one of its three president delegates. Bishop of the title of the suburbicarian see of Albano, retaining in commendam the title of S. Maria Nuova, January 10, 1994. Attended the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Africa, Vatican City, April 10 to May 8, 1994; the Ninth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 2 to 29, 1994. Papal legate to the closing of the 8th centennial celebration of St. Anthony's birth, Padova, Italy, December 8, 1995; to the closing of the 7th centennial celebration of the shrine of Loreto, Italy, December 10, 1995. Papal legate to the 46th International Eucharistic Congress, Wroclaw, Poland, May 24 to June 1, 1997. Special papal envoy to the funeral of Mother Teresa, Calcutta, India, September 13, 1997. Attended the Special Assembly for America of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, November 16 to December 12, 1997. Papal legate to the World Day of the Sick, Loreto, Italy, February 11, 1998. Attended the Special Assembly for Asia of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, April 29 to May 14, 1998. Papal legate to the celebrations of the 750th anniversary of the Duomo of Cologne, Germany, August 15, 1998; to the closing ceremonies of the Continental Youth Encounter, Santiago de Chile, Chile, October 10 to 11, 1998; to the 350th celebrations marking the Peace of Westphalia, in Osnabrück and in Münster, Germany, October 24, 1998. Attended the Special Assembly for Oceania of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, November 22 to December 12, 1998. Papal legate to the closing celebration of the European Youth Meeting, Santiago de Compostela, Spain, August 4 to 8, 1999. Attended the Second Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 1 to 23, 1999. Papal legate at the ceremony for the reopening to worship of the Upper Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, and the consecration of its new papal altar, Assisi, Italy, November 28, 1999; at the dedication of the Church of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, Moscow, Russia, December 12, 1999. Papal legate to the celebrations for the millennium of the archdiocese of Gniezno, Poland, held in that city, March 12, 2000; at the celebrations of the Fifth Centennial of the Evangelization of Brazil, Porto Seguro on April 26, 2000. Papal legate at the celebrations for the millennium of St. Stephen of Hungary, Budapest, August 20, 2000. Attended the Tenth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 30 to October 27, 2001. Papal legate to the dedication of the new cathedral of Tirana, Albania, January 26, 2002. Elected vice-dean of the College of Cardinals, November 30, 2002. Papal legate to the solemn celebration of the 700th anniversary of the death of Pope Boniface VIII; the sacred rite took place in the cathedral of Anagni, Italy, October 12, 2003. Papal legate to the solemn celebration of the 500th anniversary of the election of Pope Julius II (1503-1513); the sacred rite took place on November 30, 2003, in Savona, the native city of that pontiff. Papal legate to the solemn closing of the encounter of Central European Catholics (Mitteleuropäischer Katholikentag 2003/2004), Shrine of Mariazell, Austria, May 22 to 23, 2004. Personal representative of the pope to the state funeral of former President Ronald Reagan, June 11, 2004, National Cathedral, Washington, D.C., United States of America. Participated in the conclave of April 18 to 19, 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI. As the vice-dean of the College of Cardinals (because the dean himself had been elected pope), he asked the new pope if he accepted the election and by what name he wanted to be called. Reappointed secretary of State, April 21, 2005. Bestowed on Pope Benedict XVI the ring of the Fisherman in the ceremony of the beginning of his pontificate, April 24, 2005. Elected dean of the College of Cardinals, April 27, 2005; and bishop of the title of the suburbicarian see of Ostia, proper of the dean, retaining the title of the suburbicarian see of Albano and the title, in commendam, of S. Maria Nuova, April 30, 2005. Attended the Eleventh General Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 2 to 23, 2005. On June 22, 2006, the pope accepted, according to canon 354 of the Code of Canon Law, his resignation as secretary of State, asking him to remain in the post until September 15, 2006, with all inherent faculties of that office. Presided over the 40th meeting of the Council of Cardinals for the Study of the Organizational and Economic Problems of the Holy See, July 4, 2006. Papal legate to the celebrations of the freedom of Hungary that took place in Budapest, Hungary, on October 22 and 23, 2006. Papal legate to the solemn celebrations of the opening of the 90th anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fátima, Portugal, which took place in Fátima, on May 12 and 13, 2007. Awarded, on June 5, 2007, a doctorate ad honorem in jurisprudence, by the Università Europea di Roma, the first conferred by that institution founded in 2005 by the Legionnaires of Christ. Lost the right to participate in the conclave when turned 80 years old, November 23, 2007. Attended the Twelfth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 5 to 26, 2008, on "The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church"; by papal appointment. Pontifical legate to the solemn celebrations of the Millennium of Lithuania, which took place in Vilnius, on July 6, 2009. Member, by papal appointment, of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, October 4 to 25, 2009, Vatican City. Headed the Vatican delegation to the funeral of Patriarch Pavle, head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, celebrated in the morning of November 19, 2009, in the cathedral of St. Sava in Belgrade. Was to have been papal representative of Pope Benedict XVI in the ceremony that was held to commemorate the victims of the plane crash in Smoleńsk, which took place on April 17, 2010 in Warsaw and to the funeral of Lech Kaczyński, president of Poland, and his wife Maria, who were among the victims, on April 18, 2010 in Kraków, but was not able to travel to Poland because of the ashes of the Icelandic volcano. Józef Kowalczyk, titular archbishop of Eraclea, apostolic nuncio to Poland, read the text of the homily that the cardinal had prepared for the president's funeral. Pontifical legate to the celebrations of the 11th Eucharistic Congress of Spain, which took place from May 27 to 30, 2010, in Toledo. Pontifical legate for the consecration of the cathedral of the diocese of Karaganda, Kazakhstan, which took place on September 9, 2012. On September 18, 2012, the pope appointed him synodal father of the Thirteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 7 to 28, 2012, on the theme "The new evangelization for the transmission of the Christian faith". Bestowed on Pope Francis the ring of the Fisherman in the ceremony of the beginning of his pontificate, March 13, 2013. On December 21, 2019, the pope accepted his resignation from the office of dean of the College of Cardinals and named him dean emeritus of the College.

Death. May 27, 2022, from pneumonia complicated with Covid-19, at Colombo Hospital-Gemelli, Rome. After learning the news of the death of the cardinal, the pope sent Signora Maria Sodano, sister of the late cardinal, a telegram of condolence. The exequies for the late cardinal took place on May 31, 2022 at the Altar of Cathedra of Saint Peter's basilcia, celebrated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, together with the other cardinals, archbishops and bishops. At the end of the celebration, the pope presided over the rite of the Ultima Commendatio e della Valedictio. The late cardinal will be buried in the crypt of the Duomo of Asti on Wednesday June 1, following a vigil at 10:30 am., presided by Marco Prastaro, bishop of Asti.

Bibliography. Sodano, Angelo. Verso le origini. Una genealogia episcopale. Città del Vaticano : Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2008; Sodano, Angelo. Chiesa e riforma. Una Chiesa da amare. Città del Vaticano : Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2014.

Webgraphy. Photograph and biography, in Italian, Sala Stampa della Santa Sede; photograph and biography, in English, Holy See Press Office; his arms and photographs, Araldica Vaticana; Nel solco delle Beatitudini la testimonianza di don Giacomo Tantardini, Omelia del cardinale Angelo Sodano, decano del Collegio cardinalizio, nella santa messa esequiale, Roma, Basilica di San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, 23 aprile 2012, 30 Giorni, tratto dal n. 05 - 2012; Sodano: riforma dai singoli alla Chiesa, interview by Roberto Rotondo, Avvenire, 4 giugno 2014; An eminent distorsion of history by George Weigel, The Pilot, 7/16/2014; Sodano: da Fatima un messaggio di speranza per tutto il mondo, audio, Radio Vaticana, 2017-03-16; El cardenal Sodano al papa Francisco: ‘Usted ya tiene un lugar en nuestro corazón’ by Sergio Mora, Zenit, Ciudad del Vaticano, 27 junio 2017; Pope Francis presides over Mass for Cardinal Sodano's 90th birthday, The Vatican streamed live on Dec 7, 2017, YouTube; El Papa Francisco agradece al cardenal Sodano su servicio a la Iglesia en su 90 cumpleaños, Ecclesia Digital, 7 diciembre 2017; Uomo ecclesialmente disciplinato. Per i novant’anni del cardinale decano, L'Osservatore Romano, 07 dicembre 2017; Twilight time for the Vatican's 'Godfather', Letter from Rome, UCA News, by Robert Mickens, Rome, Vatican City, February 26, 2018; Long a lightning rod, Sodano figures in McCarrick/Viganò saga too by Elise Harris, Crux, Rome, Oct 25, 2018; Pedofilia, il cardinale Schönborn ricorda di nuovo il ruolo di insabbiatore del cardinale Sodano in Vaticano by Franca Giansoldati, Il Messagero, giovedì 28 Novembre 2019; Saludo del Decano del Colegio Cardenalicio por los 50 años de sacerdocio de Francisco, Vatican News, 13 diciembre 2019, 14:21; In quel «sì» la radice di una vocazione. Gli auguri del decano del Collegio cardinalizio per il cinquantesimo di sacerdozio del Pontefice by Angelo Sodano, L'Osservatore Romano, 13 dicembre 2019; Rinuncia all’incarico di Decano del Collegio Cardinalizio, Sala Stampa della Santa Sede, 21.12.2019; Cardinal tainted by abuse scandals steps down as dean, pope sets term limit by Elise Harris, Crux, Rome, Dec 21, 2019; Ridimensionò lo scandalo pedofilia: il Papa pensiona il cardinale Sodano by Giovanni Panettiere, Quotidiano, Città del Vaticano, 21 dicembre 2019; Sodano: el hombre de Pinochet en el Vaticano by Juan José Tamayo, Religión Digital, 21.12.2019; Pope Francis accepts resignation of dean of cardinals, sets 5-year term limit by Hannah Brockhaus, Catholic News Agency, Vatican City, Dec 21, 2019 / 07:54 am; Le cardinal Sodano quitte ses fonctions de doyen, Vatican News, 21 décembre 2019, 11:46; Cardinal (92) who ‘sought deal’ to bury sex abuse documents resigns by Patsy McGarry, The irish Times, Sat, Dec 21, 2019, 15:27; El papa Francisco removió al polémico cardenal Angelo Sodano de su cargo como “decano” by Julio Algañaraz, Clarín.com, 22/12/2019 - 11:10; Colegio Cardenalicio: Francisco acepta la renuncia del Card. Sodano como decano by Larissa I. López with Anne Kurian, Zenit, diciembre 23, 2019 10:06; The last bull: Cardinal Sodano goes out by Jason Berry, National Catholic Reporter, Dec 27, 2019; What Does Cardinal Sodano’s Departure as Dean of the College of Cardinals Mean? by Father Raymond J. de Souza, National Catholic Register, Dec. 27, 2019; I settant’anni di sacerdozio del cardinale Sodano, L'Osservatore Romano, 23 settembre 2020; Papa Francesco, elogi al cardinale Sodano anche se insabbiò i casi di pedofilia del fondatore dei Legionari di Cristo by Franca Giansoldati, Il Messaggero, mercoledì 23 Settembre 2020; I Decani del Sacro Collegio: il Cardinale Angelo Sodano by Marco Mancini, ACI Stampa, Città del Vaticano, 01 settembre, 2021 / 2:00 PM; Cardinale Sodano, 94 anni, malato di Covid19 in condizioni critiche, Il Sismografo, venerdì 27 maggio 2022; Card. Angelo Sodano quarto porporato morto di Covid-19 dall'inizio della pandemia, Il Sismografo, sabato 28 maggio 2022; Deceduto il cardinale italiano Angelo Sodano, 94 anni. E' stato Nunzio, Segretario di stato e Decano del Collegio cardinalizio, Il Sismografo, sabato 28 maggio 2022; È morto il cardinale Angelo Sodano, Segretario di Stato di due Papi, Vatican News, 28 maggio 2022, 06:44; Avviso dell’Ufficio delle Celebrazioni Liturgiche, Sala Stampa della Santa Sede, 28.05.2022; Cardinal Sodano, once powerful Vatican prelate tarnished by support for abuser Maciel, dies by Frances D'Emilio, Associated Press, National Catholic Reporter, May 28, 2022; Papa Francesco: "Il Cardinale Sodano uomo ecclesialmente disciplinato" by Marco Mancini, ACI Stampa, Città del Vaticano, 28 maggio, 2022 / 10:30 AM; Décès du cardinal Sodano, ex-bras droit de Jean Paul II et Benoît XVI, Le Figaro with AFP, 28/05/2022; Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican Power Broker, Dies at 94 by Jason Horowitz and Anna Momigliano, The New York Times, May 28, 2022 11:23 a.m. ET; With Sodano’s passing, the Vatican’s old guard is down but hardly out by John L. Allen Jr., Crux, Rome, May 29, 2022, with audio; Pope Francis attends funeral of Cardinal Sodano, Catholic News Agency, Vatican City, May 31, 2022 / 06:30 am; With Cardinal Sodano’s death, an era has come to a close by Andrea Gagliarducci, Catholic News Agency, Vatican City, Jun 1, 2022 / 11:50 am.

Birth. June 5, 1912. Teleac, archdiocese of Făgăraş şi Alba Iulia, Romania. Of a peasant family. His parents were Gheorghe and Maria Todea. He was the thirteenth of sixteen children.

Education. Studied at Lyceum "Sfântul Vasile cel Mare", Blaj; he later attended the Pontifical Urban Athenaeum "De Propaganda Fide", Rome, where he obtained a doctorate in theology.

Sacred orders. Received the subdiaconate as well as the diaconate on December 11, 1938 from Bishop Iuliu Hossu of Cluj-Gherla in the chapel of Collegio Pio Romeno, Rome.

Priesthood. Ordained, March 25, 1939, in the chapel of Collegio Pio Romeno, Rome, by Alexander Evreinoff, titular archbishop of Pario, ordaining prelate for the Byzantine Catholics in Rome. Further studies, 1939-1940, Rome. Pastoral ministry in the archdiocese of Făgăraş şi Alba Iulia, 1940 until the Catholic Church of Byzantine-Romanian rite was suppressed in 1948. He was arrested several times between 1945-1948 and escaped.

Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Cesaropoli and appointed auxiliary of Făgăraş şi Alba Iulia, July 4, 1950. Consecrated, November 19, 1950, secretly, not during a Mass, sacristy of the cathedral of Sfântul Iosif, Bucarest, by Joseph Schubert, titular bishop of Ceramussa, apostolic administrator of Bucarest, with see in Blaj; without co-consecrators. His episcopal motto was Bucuros maă voi cheltui şi pe mine, pentru sufletele voastre. On January 31st, 1951, he was captured by the political police of the Gheorghiu-Dej communist regime, Securitate. He was sentenced to hard labor for life, following a trial in 1952 when the prosecutor initially requested death penalty. In 1964, based on the amnesty given for political detainees, and after spending 14 years in the hardest Communist prison, he was pardoned, released, and placed under house arrest. In 1986, the Greek-Catholic Episcopal Conference held a secret meeting and elected him as its head. The Greek-Catholic Church gained its freedom in 1989 and confirmed him in his post a year later. He had spent a total of 16 years in jail and 27 years under house arrest during the period of the communist regime. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Făgăraş şi Alba Iulia of the Romanians, March 14, 1990. President of the Episcopal Conference of Romania, March 16, 1990-1994. Attended the Eighth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 30 to October 28, 1990; member of its general secretariat, 1990-1994.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of June 28, 1991; received the red biretta and the title of S. Atanasio a Via Tiburtina, June 28, 1991. Attended the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Europe, Vatican City, November 28 to December 14, 1991. Lost the right to participate in the conclave when turned eighty years of age, June 5, 1992. Suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed and confined to a wheel chair, 1992. Resigned the pastoral government of the archdiocese of Făgăraş şi Alba Iulia, July 20, 1994. Honorary member of Academiei Române.

Death. Wednesday May 22, 2002, at 4 p.m., while recovering in a hospital in the Transylvanian city of Targu Mures, ten years after being paralyzed by a stroke. Upon learning the news of the death of the Cardinal, Pope John Paul II sent a telegram of condolence to Lucian Mureşan, metropolitan archbishop of Făgăraş şi Alba Iulia. Buried in the crypt of the Most Holy Trinity metropolitan cathedral of Blaj (Făgăraş şi Alba Iulia) (1). In 2010, on the occasion of the centenary of his birth, a commemorative coin of 10 Lei (Romanian currency), was issued by the National Bank of Romania bearing the cardinal's face on the front and the Cathedral of the Sfânta Treime of Blaj on the back. A monument was unveiled on April 3, 2017 in Reghin in Mureș County.

Webgraphy. Photograph and biography, in Romanian, Wikipedia; photograph and biographical information, in Romanian, no. 75 Mari români; photographs and biography, in Italian, Santi e Beati; his photograph and arms, Araldica Vaticana; Cardinal Alexandru Todea of Romania, The Byzantine Forum, 05/23/02 12:59 pm; Alexandru Todea, 89, Romanian Cardinal by The Associated Press, May 26, 2002, The New York Times; Centenar - Cardinal Alexandru Todea, Episcopia Greco-Catolica Oradea, 6 Iunie 2012; In Memoriam, Alexandru Todea, jurnaldereghin2012, published on May 22, 2012, You Tube; "Cardinalul Todea 100", jurnaldereghin2012, published on Jun 21, 2012, YouTube; 10 Lei Cardinal Alexandru Todea, Non circulating coin, Year 2012, Numista; 102 Ani de la Naşterea Cardinalului Todea (2014 06 06), Jurnal de Reghin, published on Jun 6, 2014, YouTube; Cardinalul Todea by Ana Boariu, published on Feb 1, 2015, YouTube.

(1) This is the text of the telegram, taken from the Press Office of the Holy See:

Birth. May 21, 1922, Castiglione, diocese of Forlì (now Forlì-Bertinoro), Italy. He was the youngest of the five children of Antonio Laghi, a laborer, and Laura Conti, a poor family from the countryside. In 1926, the family moved to Villanova di Forli; and in 1928 to Faenza. They lived in the parish of S. Stefano, where the pastors, Father Barisani and later Monsignor Domenico Balbi, helped the family economically and young Pio to continue his studies. In addition to studying, Pio worked as an attendant in the shop of Archimede, in piazza Faenza.

Education. After finishing his elementary studies in the school of via Castellani 25, he entered in 1933 the Salesian Institute, Faenza (secondary studies); then he entered the Seminary of Forlì (philosophy); and then, he studied at the Pontifical Roman Seminary, Rome; and later, at the Theological Faculty, Pontifical Lateran University, Rome (licentiate in theology, June 30, 1946; doctorates in theology, 1942, thesis: "San Guido abate di Pomposa", under the direction of Monsignor Pio Paschini; and canon law, 1950, thesis: "La competenza del vescovo diocesano e l'equa distribuzione dei beni ecclesiastici", under the guidance of Professor Giacomo Violardo, future cardinal); finally, he also attended the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, Rome, from October 1950 (diplomacy, 1952).

Priesthood. Ordained, Saturday April 20, 1946, chapel of the bishop of Faenza, by Giuseppe Battaglia, bishop of Faenza. He celebrated his first mass on the following day in the church of S. Stefano, assisted by Monsignor Balbi, Father Pietro Costa and Monsignor Giuseppe Lanzoni. Further studies, Rome, 1947-1952. Entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See, March 1952. After six months working in the Secretariat of State, he was named attaché of the nunciature in Nicaragua, March 1, 1952-1955. Secretary and later auditor in the apostolic delegation in the United States of America, November 3, 1954-1961. Auditor in the nunciature in India, August 1961-1964. Official in the Council of Affairs of the Church, February 1964-1969. Domestic prelate of His Holiness, December 21, 1965. In May 1968, he formed part of the delegation of the Holy See to the conference of the United Nations on human rights in Teheran, Iran.

Episcopate. Elected titular archbishop of Mauriana and appointed apostolic delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine, May 24, 1969. Consecrated, June 22, 1969, cathedral of S. Pietro, Faenza, by Cardinal Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, bishop of title of suburbicarian see of Frascati, secretary of State emeritus, assisted by Agostino Casaroli, titular archbishop of Cartago, and by Giuseppe Battaglia, bishop of Faenza. His episcopal motto was In Verbo tuo. Pro-nuncio in Cyprus, May 28, 1973; and also, apostolic visitor to Greece. Nuncio in Argentina, April 27, 1974. Attended the Third General Conference of the Latin American Episcopal Council, Puebla, México, January 27 to February 13, 1979. Apostolic delegate in the United States of America and permanent observer to the Organization of American States, with title of nuncio ad personam, December 10, 1980; pro-nuncio in the United States of America, when diplomatic relations were established, March 26, 1984. Pro-prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, April 6, 1990. Attended the Eighth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 30 to October 28, 1990.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of June 28, 1991; received the red biretta and the deaconry of S. Maria Ausiliatrice in Via Tuscolana, June 28, 1991. Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education and grand chancellor of the Pontifical Gregorian University from July 1, 1991 until November 15, 1999. Attended the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Europe, Vatican City, November 28 to December 14, 1991; the Fourth General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, October 12 to 28, 1992. Named president of the Pontifical Oratory of St. Peter on December 5, 1992. Patronus of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, May 8, 1993. Attended the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Africa, Vatican City, April 10 to May 8, 1994; the Ninth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 2 to 29, 1994; the Special Assembly for Lebanon of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, November 26 to December 14, 1995. Attended the Special Assembly for America of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, November 16 to December 12, 1997. Attended the Special Assembly for Asia of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, April 29 to May 14, 1998; the Special Assembly for Oceania of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, November 22 to December 12, 1998. Cardinal protodeacon, January 9, 1999. Attended the Second Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 1 to 23, 1999. Resigned the prefecture, November 15, 1999. Special papal envoy to Israel and the Palestinian Authority to deliver a personal message from Pope John Paul II promoting a cease fire and the resumption of peace talks, May 30, 2001. Opted for the order of cardinal priests and the title of S. Pietro in Vincoli, February 26, 2002. Lost the right to participate in the conclave when turned eighty years of age, May 21, 2002. Named special papal envoy to the president of the United States of America to carry a message from Pope John Paul II and to illustrate the position and the initiatives undertaken by the Holy See to contribute to the disarmament and peace in the Middle East, March 1, 2003.

Death. Sunday January 11, 2009, in the early hours of the morning, at San Carlo di Nancy Hospital, Rome, where he was recovering from a cardio-vascular insufficiency caused by a hematologic disease. The viewing took place at the hospital on that same day. On Monday January 12, the body of the late cardinal was transferred to the Vatican. Upon learning the news of the death of the cardinal, Pope Benedict XVI prayed for the eternal repose of his soul and sent a telegram of condolence to his nieces and nephews (1). A Capella Papale took place for the exequies of the late cardinal. The mass, celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, bishop of the title of the suburbicarian sees of Ostia and Albano, dean of the College of Cardinals, and the other cardinals present, took place on Tuesday January 13, at 11 a.m., in the papal Vatican basilica. At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, Pope Benedict XVI, who delivered the homily and presided over the rites of Ultima Commendatio and Valedictio. The cardinals that concelebrated were Roger Etchegaray, Giovanni Battista Re, Francis Arinze, Jozef Tomko, Paul Poupard, Bernard Francis Law, Eduardo Martínez Somalo, Achille Silvestrini, Giovanni Canestri, Camillo Ruini, Salvatore De Giorgi, Ivan Dias, Antonio Cañizares Llovera, Estanislao Esteban Karlic, Darío Castrillón Hoyos, Giovanni Cheli, Agostino Cacciavillan, Sergio Sebastiani, Zenon Grocholewski, José Saraiva Martins, Jorge María Mejía, Walter Kasper, Jean Louis Tauran, Renato Raffaele Martino, Francesco Marchisano, Julián Herranz, Attilio Nicora, Georges Marie Martin Cottier, Franc Rodé, Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, Leonardo Sandri, John Patrick Foley, Angelo Comastri, Raffaele Farina, Giovanni Coppa, Urbano Navarrete. Among the present were Cardinals Ignace Moussa I Daoud, Paul Augustin Mayer, O.S.B., José Sánchez, Virgilio Noè, and Carlo Furno; Archbishops Fernando Filoni, substitute of the Secretariat of State; Dominique Mamberti, secretary for the Relations with the States; Monsignor Fortunatus Nwachukwu; and the grand master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Fra' Matthew Festing, with a delegation. In the first row were the nieces and nephews of the late cardinal. A representation of the Pontifical Oratory of San Pietro, led by Monsignor Bruno Guiotto, also participated. At the altar served members of the Pontifical Roman Seminary. Italian president Giorgio Napolitano sent his condolences to the Vatican, "paying homage to (Cardinal Laghi's) passion for great international issues". The body of the late cardinal was buried in the cathedral basilica of Faenza, at the end of the eucharistic liturgy that was celebrated on Wednesday January 14, 2009, at 10 a.m.

Bibliography. Bedeschi, Lorenzo. Il Cardinale Pio Laghi : cittadino onorario di Betlemme, nel suo settantesimo anno di età. Roma : Istituto Grafico Editoriale Romano, 1992; Bransom, Charles N. Ordinations of U. S. Catholic bishops 1970-1989. A chronological list. Washington, D.C. : National Conference of Catholic Bishops ; United States Catholic Conference, 1990, p. 208; Casaretto, Jorge."El paso de Pio Laghi entre nosotros." In: Criterio: actualidad, fe y cultura, año 82, no. 2346 (mar. 2009), p. 93-94; Gordini, Gian Domenico. Due vite per la chiesa : i cardinali Pio Laghi e Achille Silvestrini celebrano quest'anno il giubileo sacerdotale. Faenza : Diocesi di Faenza-Modigliana, 1996; Mejía, Jorge Mario. "El ejemplo del cardenal Laghi." In: Criterio: actualidad, fe y cultura, año 82, no. 2346 (mar. 2009), p. 90-92; Passarelli, Bruno; Elenberg, Fernando. Il cardinale e i desaparecidos : l'opera del nunzio apostolico Pio Laghi in Argentina. [s.l.] : EDI 2000, Grafiche Mari, 1999.

Webgraphy. Photograph and biography, in Italian, Sala Stampa della Santa Sede; photograph and biography, in English, Holy See Press Office; his arms, Araldica Vaticana; 10 anni fa la morte del cardinale Pio Laghi, Il Sismografo, venerdì 10 gennaio 2020; Sono passati cinque anni dell'apertura dell'Aechivi della Chiesa, in Vaticano e in Argentina, sull'operato del Nuncio Pio Lahi e non si è trovato anche una riga che confermi quanto diceva una campagna mediatica contro il poporato, Il Sismografo, martedì 6 luglio 2021.

(1) This is the text of the telegram, taken from the Press Office of the Holy See:

Birth. July 5, 1924, Sydney, Australia. Son of Harold George Cassidy and Dorothy May Phillips. Neither parent was a Catholic. He had a younger brother, Douglas. The mother left the father in 1926, shortly after the birth of Douglas, and entered into a de facto union with Thomas Henry Lenson; she took Douglas with her. They had four children and married on December 24, 1942. Edward was placed in the care of his paternal grandparents, Edward and Mary Jane Cassidy ("Nana"). He was baptized in the Church of England; his grandmother had him received into the Roman Catholic Church, and, as it was the custom then, he was baptized again in St. John Baptist Church in Gulgong, when he was three or four years old.

Education. Initial studies at St. Patrick's Convent School, Bondi, until 1931; the family moved to Punchbowl, where there was no Catholic school, and he attended Punchbowl Public School; he made his first communion prepared by the sisters from Bankstown; in 1935, they moved to West Bankstown and he completed his primary education at Bankstown Central Public School in 1936; from a very young age he began to think of the priesthood with no one's influence; then, he was admitted to Parramatta High School; at that time a priest from St. Felix's parish discouraged him from becoming a priest because he had not finished his secondary education, had not studied in Catholic schools and his family background was definitively "unsuitable"; because of financial difficulties after his grandfather died in 1939, he worked at the New South Wales Department of Road Transport as a junior clerk, having to stop his schooling; in 1942, he went directly to Archbishop Norman Thomas Gilroy of Sydney to present his case for entering the priesthood; the archbishop agreed and he entered St. Columba's College (seminary), Springwood, in February 1943 (philosophy); then, after a year, he went to St. Patrick's College, Manly; he received the subdiaconate in 1949. Later, he studied at the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome, where he obtained a doctorate in canon law, in July 1955 (dissertation on the history and juridical nature of the apostolic delegations); and at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, also in Rome, from October 1953, where he obtained a diploma in diplomatic studies.

Priesthood. Ordained, July 23, 1949, at the metropolitan cathedral of St. Mary, Sydney, by Cardinal Norman Thomas Gilroy, archbishop of Sydney. Father Edward Bede Clancy, future cardinal, was ordained at the same time. They became and remained good friends through the years. He celebrated his first Mass in St. Brigid's Church, in Cogee, where his grandmother had been buried. He volunteered to transfer to the diocese of Wagga Wagga after the priestly ordination. In January 1950, he was assigned to the small parish of Yenda. In 1952, Bishop Francis Henschke of Wagga Wagga, asked him if he would like to go to Rome to study canon law; he agreed and left for Rome on September 1, 1952; while studying in Rome, he resided at Collegio Sant'Apollinare, next to Piazza Navona. After finishing his studies, he joined the Vatican diplomatic service in July 1955. Attaché at the internunciature in India from August 1955 to October 1962. Privy chamberlain supernumerary of His Holiness, July 3, 1956; confirmed by the new Pope Paul VI, June 21, 1963. Auditor of the nunciature in Ireland, October 1962 to June 1967. Counselor of apostolic delegation in the United States of America, June 1967; at the same time, the nuncio in Ireland, Archbishop Giuseppe Sensi, was transferred to the nunciature in Portugal; Monsignor Cassidy had to stay in Dublin until the following November and instead, he was named counselor of the nunciature in El Salvador, where he remained until the end of 1969. Counselor of the nunciature in Argentina from Christmas 1969 until his promotion to the episcopate in 1970.

Episcopate. Elected titular archbishop of Amanzia and appointed pro-nuncio to the Republic of China (Taiwan), October 27, 1970. Consecrated, November 15, 1970, chapel of the Pontifical Urban Athenaeum of Propaganda Fide, Rome, by Cardinal Jean Villot, secretary of State, assisted by Giovanni Benelli, titular archbishop of Tusuro, substitute of the Secretariat of State, and by Matthew Beovich, archbishop of Adelaide, representing Sergio Pignedoli, titular archbishop of Iconio, secretary of S.C. for the Evangelization of Peoples. His episcopal motto was Fortitudo mea Dominus. Pro-nuncio to Bangladesh, January 31, 1973. Apostolic delegate to South Africa and pro-nuncio to Lesotho, March 25, 1979. Pro-nuncio to Holland, November 6, 1984. Substitute of the secretariat of State for General Affairs, March 23, 1988. President of the Pontifical Council for Promotion of Christian Unity, December 12, 1989. Attended the Eighth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 30 to October 28, 1990.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of June 28, 1991; received the red biretta and the deaconry of S. Maria in Via Lata, June 28, 1991. Attended the Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, November 28 to December 14, 1991; the Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, April 10 to May 8, 1994; the Ninth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 2 to 29, 1994; the Special Assembly for Lebanon of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, November 26 to December 14, 1995. Special papal envoy to the celebrations at the Marian Shrine of Zarvanycia, Ukraine, for the 4th centenary of Union of Brest and the 350th anniversary of the Union of Uzhorod, May 19, 1996. Attended the Special Assembly for America of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, November 16 to December 12, 1997; the Special Assembly for Asia of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, April 29 to May 14, 1998; the Special Assembly for Oceania of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, November 22 to December 12, 1998; one of its three presidents delegate. Attended the Second Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 1 to 23, 1999. Special papal envoy to the celebrations marking the millennium of Christianity in Iceland, Reykjavík, June 1 to 2, 2000. Resigned the presidency of the Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, March 3, 2001. Opted for the order of cardinal priests and his deaconry was elevated pro hac vice to title, February 26, 2002. Special papal envoy to the ceremony for the reopening of the cathedral of St. Patrick, Parramatta, Australia, on November 29, 2003. Lost the right to participate in the conclave when turned 80 years old, July 5, 2004. Retired to Warabrook, NSW, Australia, where he would step in to say Masses in parishes when priests were away and worked as a chaplain to the Italian community in Newcastle, New South Wales.

Death. April 10, 2021, in Newscastle, Australia, around 2 p.m. local time. Hospitalized after suffering a fall which caused the breaking of a bone, he was operated with the result of being left very weak. On April 14, 2021, the pope sent Adolfo Tito Yllana, apostolic nuncio to Australia, a telegram of condolence. A pontifical requiem Mass of Christian burial for the late cardinal was celebrated on Monday, April 19, 2021, at St. Mary's cathedral in Sydney, at 10:30 a.m. The principal celebrant was Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, apostolic nuncio to Australia. Concelebrants were the archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, O.P., and eleven other bishops, as well as dozens of priests. The homily was delivered by Brian Mascord, bishop of Wollongong. The late cardinal was buried in the crypt of the cathedral (1), in the same vault with Cardinal Edward Bede Clancy, archbishop emeritus of Sydney, who was ordained a priest together with him in 1949. Archbishop Fisher said the final prayers in the crypt of the cathedral.

Bibliography. Cassidy, Edward Idris. My years in Vatican service. New York : Paulist Press, 2009.

Webgraphy. Photograph and biography, in Italian, Sala stampa della Santa Sede; photograph and biography, in English, Holy See Press Office; his arms, Araldica Vaticana; È morto il cardinale Edward Cassidy, una vita al servizio della Santa Sede, Vatican News, 10 aprile 2021, 12:00; Church mourns death of Australian Cardinal Edward Cassidy, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, April 10, 2021; Cardinal Cassidy, Vatican’s former top ecumenist, dies at 96, The Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, April 10, 2021; È morto il cardinale Cassidy, L'Osservatore Romano, 10 aprile 2021; Cardinal Cassidy remembered for life of service to the Church, Vatican News, 10 April 2021, 16:14; Australian Cardinal Cassidy, former Vatican official, dies at 96 by Cindy Wooden, Crux, Rome, Apr 10, 2021; Australian Cardinal Edward Cassidy spearheaded ecumenical, interfaith efforts, The Catholic Weekly, April 10, 2021; Australia: Cardinal Edward Cassidy has died, Independent Catholic News, Apr 11th, 2021; China's last apostolic pro-nuncio dies in Australia, UCA News, April 12, 2021 06:30 AM GMT; In memoriam Cardinale Edward Idris Cassidy, Pontificio Consiglio per la Promozione dell'Unità dei Cristiani, 12 apr 2021; Cardinal Edward Cassidy – the quiet achiever by Christopher Lamb, The Tablet, 13 April 2021; World Jewish Congress mourns the passing of Cardinal Cassidy, eureporter, April 13, 2021; 10:30am Pontifical Mass of Christian Burial for Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy - 19th April 2021, YouTube; Messa in suffragio per il Cardinale Cassidy Pontificio Consiglio per la Promozione dell'Unità dei Cristiani, 19 apr 2021.

(1) This is the text of the inscription on his vault, kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta:

Birth. October 24, 1920, Le Biot, Haute-Savoie, diocese of Annecy, France. His father was a carpenter. His baptismal name was Robert-Joseph.

Education. Studied at the Minor Seminary of Thonon; later, at the Major Seminary of Annecy; and finally, at the Catholic Faculty of Lyon.

Priesthood. Ordained, October 28, 1944, Annecy. Further studies, Lyon, 1944-1946. Pastoral ministry, Annecy, 1946-1947; faculty member, minor seminary of Thonon, 1948; further studies, Lyon, 1949. In the diocese of Annecy, faculty member of its major seminary, 1949-1952; its rector, 1952-1956; honorary canon of the cathedral chapter; member of the episcopal council; diocesan director of religious education; vicar general, 1956-1967.

Episcopate. Elected bishop of Gap, February 11, 1967. Consecrated, April 23, 1967, church of the Visitation, Annecy, by Jean Sauvage, bishop of Annecy, assisted by André Charles Collini, bishop of Ajaccio, and by Paul-Marie François Rousset, Ist. del Prado, titular bishop of Utimma, auxiliary of Lyon. His episcopal motto was Sint unum. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Albi, June 15, 1974. Attended the Fourth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 30 to October 29, 1977. Attended the Sixth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 29 to October 28, 1983. Transferred to the archdiocese of Marseille, April 13, 1985. Attended the Seventh Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 1 to 30, 1987.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of June 28, 1991; received the red biretta and the title of S. Luigi Maria Grignion de Montfort, June 28, 1991. Resigned the pastoral government of the archdiocese, April 22, 1995. He was an expert on contemporary philosophy who had studied and written on Karl Marx, Soren Kierkegaard and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.

Death. July 15, 1995, of cancer, in Saint-Zacharie, diocese of Fréjus-Toulon. Buried in the crypt of the archepiscopal (now metropolitan) cathedral of Marseille (1).

Bibliography. Chapeau, O.S.B. André and Fernand Combaluzier, C.M. Épiscopologe français des temps modernes, 1592-1973. Paris : Letouzey et Ané, 1974, p. 241-242.

Webgraphy. Biography, in French, Wikipédia; his photograph and arms, Araldica Vaticana.

(1) This is the text of the inscription on his vault, kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici:

(91) 6. ETSOU-NZABI-BAMUNGWABI, C.I.C.M., Frédéric
(1930-2007)

Birth. December 3, 1930, Mazalaga, diocese of Lisala, Congo (later Zaïre; now Democratic Republic of the Congo), of a pagan tribal chief family. Son of Joseph Honoré Marie Mabomba and Françoise Naanu. His third last name is also listed as ba Mungwabi.

Education. Primary education at the Catholic mission, Boyange; secondary education at the Minor Seminary "Notre Dame de Grâce", Bolongo; Major Seminary, Kabwe, 1949-1954 (first cycle of philosophy, 1949-1953; and first year of theology, 1953-1954); dedicated some time to silence and prayer and then decided to follow a missionary vocation; joined the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (C.I.C.M.), also known as the Fathers of Scheut, in the novitiate of Katoka, Western Kasai, 1954 (completed the theological studies); Catholic Institute, Paris (doctorate in sociology); Lumen Vitae Institute, Brussels (doctorate in pastoral theology); Overseas Institute of Higher Studies, Paris (studied letters and sciences).

Priesthood. Ordained, July 13, 1958, by François Van den Berghe, C.I.C.M., titular bishop of Boseta, vicar apostolic of Lisala. Vicar in two parishes of the vicariate apostolic of Leopoldville (1) from 1958: Saint-François de Sales (Kintambo) and Saint-Pierre (Kinshasa). Went to Europe for further studies in France and Belgium until 1968. Successively, 1968-1976, pastor of the parish of Saint-Pierre in the archdiocese of Kinshasa and vice-provincial of his congregation; president of the assembly of superiors major, province of Kinshasa; vice-president of the assembly of superiors major of Zaïre; superior of his congregation in Africa.

Episcopate. Elected titular archbishop of Menefessi and named coadjutor, with right of succession, of Mbandaka-Bikoro, July 8, 1976. Consecrated, November 7, 1976, by Cardinal Joseph Malula, archbishop of Kinshasa, assisted by Pierre Wijnants, M.S.C., archbishop of Mbandaka, and by Albert Tshomba Yungu, bishop of Tshumbe. Succeeded to the see of Mbandaka-Bikoro, November 11, 1977. Vice-president of the Episcopal Conference of Zaïre, 1979-1984. Transferred to the metropolitan see of Kinshasa, July 7, 1990. Apostolic administrator, ad nutum Sanctæ Sedis, of Mbandaka-Bikoro, July 7, 1990 until October 11, 1991.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of June 28, 1991; received the red biretta and the title of S. Lucia a Piazza d'Armi, June 28, 1991. Member of the Council of Cardinals for the Study of the Organizational and Economics Problems of the Holy See, December 2, 1993. Attended the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Africa, Vatican City, April 10 to May 8, 1994. Elected president of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo for a four-year term, in its 34th plenary assembly, July 13, 2000. Attended the Tenth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 30 to October 27, 2001. Participated in the conclave of April 18 to 19, 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI.

Death. Saturday January 6, 2007, of a pulmonary edema, in the hospital of the University of Louvain, Belgium. He had been hospitalized for two weeks and had been receiving treatment for some months for diabetes. Upon learning the news of the death of the cardinal, Pope Benedict XVI sent Daniel Nlandu Mayi, auxiliary bishop of Kinshasa, and Father Jozef Lapauw, Superior General of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Missionaries of Scheut), telegrams of condolence (2). An official statement of the episcopal Conference of Congo (CNECO), announced on January 9, 2007, that the cardinal was going to be buried on Monday January 15, 2007, in the metropolitan cathedral of Notre-Dame du Congo, Lingwala, Kinshasa. The mortal remains of the prelate arrived on Thursday January 11 at Kinshasa's international airport of N'djili. The body of the cardinal was exposed in the cathedral until the day of his burial. During this time, meetings of the prayers and testimonies were organized to pay homage to the late prelate. On Sunday January 14, 2007, the day before the burial, a mass of thanksgiving was said at the Stadium of the Martyrs at 9:30 a.m. for the eternal repose of his soul. Cardinal Christian Wiyghan Tumi, archbishop of Douala, Cameorun, represented Pope Benedict XVI. Cardinals Bernard Agré, archbishop emeritus of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and Polycarp Pengo, archbishop of Dar-es-Salam, Tanzania, were present at the funeral. There were Masses starting from 6 p.m. each day in the cathedral. The body of the cardinal was buried (3) beside his predecessor, Cardinal Joseph Malula, the first Congolese cardinal, who has rested in the cathedral since 1989.

Webgraphy. Photograph and biography, in Italian, Sala Stampa della Santa Sede; photograph and biography, in English, Holy See Press Office; photographs and biography by Eman Bonnici, in English, Find a Grave; photograph and biography, in French, Wikipédia; photographs and arms, Araldica Vaticana; Le cardinal Etsou laisse un testament d'unité au peuple congolais, grio.com, 14 Janeiro 2007 18:37:00; Mort du Cardinal Etsou : "On ne peut rien exclure !" by B. Amba Wetshi, Congoindependant.com, 7 janvier 2007.

(1) The vicariate apostolic of Leopoldville was elevated to the rank of metropolitan archdiocese on November 10, 1959; its name was changed to Kinshasa on May 30, 1966.

Birth. October 31, 1936, Barrancas, archdiocese of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Son of Perfecto Ramón López Salcedo and Delia Ramona Rodríguez de López.

Education. Studied at the Pontifical Seminary "Santo Tomás de Aquino", Santo Domngo; at the International Center for the Sociological Formation of the Clergy, Rome; at the Pontifical S. Tommaso d'Aquino University, Rome, where he earned a doctorate in social sciences; and at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. Besides his native Spanish, he speaks Italian, English, German, Portuguese and Latin.

Priesthood. Ordained, March 18, 1961, La Vega, by Francisco Panal Ramírez, O.F.M., bishop of La Vega. Vicar cooperator of the cathedral of La Vega, 1961-1963. Further studies, Rome, 1963-1965. Chancellor and secretary of the diocesan curia of La Vega, 1966-1968. Further studies, Rome, 1968-1969. In the diocese of La Vega, 1969-1978, diocesan assessor for the pastoral of the youth and pastor of the cathedral, 1969-1970. Vicar for the pastoral and pro-vicar general, 1970-1976. Vicar general, 1976-1978.

Episcopate. Elected bishop of San Francisco de Macorís, January 16, 1978. Consecrated, February 25, 1978, by Cardinal Octavio Antonio Beras Rojas, archbishop of Santo Domingo, assisted by Juan Antonio Flores Santana, bishop of La Vega, and by Jesús María De Jesús Moya, titular bishop of Massita, auxiliary of Santiago de los Caballeros. His episcopal motto is Fortes in fide. Rector of the University o San Francisco de Macorís, 1979-1984. Promoted to the metropolitan and primatial see of Santo Domingo, November 15, 1981. Grand chancellor of the Catholic University of Santo Domingo. Military ordinary for the Dominican Republic, April 4, 1982. Attended the Sixth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 29 to October 28, 1983; the Second Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, November 24 to December 8, 1985. Elected president of the Conference of the Dominican Episcopate, July 1984. President of the Latin American Episcopal Council, April 25, 1991 to 1994.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of June 28, 1991; received the red biretta and the title of S. Pio X alla Balduina, June 28, 1991. Attended the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Europe, Vatican City, November 28 to December 14, 1991; the Fourth General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate, Santo Domingo, October 12 to 28, 1992; one of the three presidents delegate. Papal legate to the 45th International Eucharistic Congress, Seville, Spain, June 7 to 13, 1993. Special papal envoy to the 4th National Marian Congress, Loja, Ecuador, August 20 to 25, 1994. Attended the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Africa, Vatican City, April 10 to May 8, 1994; the Ninth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 2 to 29, 1994. Attended the Special Assembly for America of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, November 16 to December 12, 1997. Special papal envoy to the conclusive celebrations of the National Eucharistic Congress of Uruguay, Colonia del Sacramento, October 15, 2000. Special papal envoy to the celebration of the 5th centennial of the first Mass celebrated in Honduras, Bahía de Trujillo, August 14, 2002. Participated in the conclave of April 18 to 19, 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI. Special papal envoy to the celebrations for the Fourth Centennial of the death of Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo, patron saint of the Latin American episcopate, Lima, Perú, April 24 to 29, 2006. Participated in the 5th General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate that took place from May 13 to 31, 2007, in Aparecida, Brazil. On January 12, 2008, he was named by the pope member of the Special Council for America of the Synod of Bishops. Special papal envoy to the Third American Missionary Congress (CAM3) and the Eighth Latin American Missionary Congress (COMLA8), which took place in Quito, Ecuador, on August 12 to 17, 2008. Participated in the conclave of March 12 to 13, 2013, which elected Pope Francis. On November 29, 2013, he was named special papal envoy to the closing celebrations of the first centennial of the establishment of the ecclesiastical province of Managua, Nicaragua, which took place on December 2, 2013. The pope had named Cardinal Jorge Liberato Urosa Sabino, archbishop of Caracas, Venezuela, his special envoy to the celebrations but he was unable to attend due to illness. Confirmed as member of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America on January 15, 2014. He was confirmed as member of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life on March 29, 2014. On July 4, 2016, the pope accepted his resignation from the pastoral government of the metropolitan archdiocese of Santo Domingo. He was succeeded by Francisco Ozoria Acosta, until then bishop of San Pedro de Macorís. Lost the right to participate in the conclave when turned eighty years old on October 31, 2016. On January 2, 2017, the pope accepted his resignation from the pastoral government of the Military Ordinariate of the Dominican Republic.

Bibliography. López Rodríguez, Nicolás de Jesús. Mi vida pastoral : ministerio episcopal en San Francisco de Macorís 1978-1981 y 25 años pastoreando la Arquidiócesis de Santo Domingo 1981-2006. Santo Domingo, República Dominicana : Arzobispado de Santo Domingo, 2006.

Webgraphy. Photograph and biography, in Italian, Sala Stampa della Santa Sede; photograph and biography, in English, Holy See Press Office; biography, in English, Wikipedia; photograph and biography, in Spanish, ACI Prensa; his arms, Araldica Vaticana; JESUITAS: Santo Domingo: El Cardenal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez arremete contra cura jesuita. Ver videos, CVXChile, viernes, 7 de febrero de 2014; Dominican Cardinal slams Jesuits over Haitian offspring row, Dominican Today, 7 February 2014, 3:01 PM; Rep. Dominicana: Sacerdotes apoyan a Cardenal Ló;pez Rodrí;guez tras enérgica amonestación a jesuita, ACI Prensa, 13 Feb. 14 / 04:10 pm; Cardenal López Rodríguez se recupera satisfactoriamente tras ser sometido a una cirugía, Diario Libre, Santo Domingo - dic. 01, 2020 | 07:03 p. m.; Papa Francisco felicita al Cardenal López Rodríguez por su LX aniversario de ordenación sacerdotal, Noticias SIN, 02-05-2021 - 07:07 PM; Cardenal López Rodríguez se deja ver con aspecto sonriente y saludable by Sandra Guzmán, Diario Libre, Santo Domingo - may. 05, 2022 | 07:28 p. m.; Poder Ejecutivo pone en retiro al cardenal López Rodríguez por antigüedad en el servicio, Diario Libre, Santo Domingo - feb. 27, 2023 | 08:25 p. m.

(93) 8. SÁNCHEZ, José Tomás
(1920-2012)

Birth. March 17, 1920, Pandan, Catanduanes, diocese of Virac, Philippines. He came from an ordinary family. He was the eighth of the ten children of Patricio Sánchez and Paz Tomás and became a priest only after being sponsored by a bishop.

Education. Studied at Holy Rosary Seminary, Naga; and then, at St. Thomas University, Manila, where he earned a doctorate in theology.

Priesthood. Ordained, May 12, 1946 in Naga City, for the diocese of Sorsogon. Successively, 1946-1968, he was assistant pastor of San Raphael parish, Sorsogon; and realized pastoral ministry in Legazpi, were he became vicar general. Faculty member, minor seminary of Sorsogon; St. Agnes Academy; lyceum of Albay; St. Thomas University, Legazpi; Holy Rosary Seminary, Naga.

Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Lesvi and appointed auxiliary of Cáceres, February 5, 1968. Consecrated, May 12, 1968, cathedral of San Jorge, Legazpi, by Carmine Rocco, titular archbishop of Iustinianopolis in Galatia, nuncio to the Philippines, assisted by Flaviano Ariola, bishop of Legazpi, and by Arnulfo Arcilla, bishop of Sorsogon. Named coadjutor, with right of succession, of Lucena, December 12, 1972. Attended the Third Ordinary Assembly of the the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 27 to October 26, 1974. Successor to the see of Lucena, September 25, 1976. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Nueva Segovia, January 12, 1982. Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, October 30, 1985. Resigned the pastoral government of the archdiocese of Nueva Segovia, March 22, 1986.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of June 28, 1991; received the red biretta and the deaconry of S. Pio V a Villa Carpegna, June 28, 1991. Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy and president of the Pontifical Commission for the Preservation of the Artistic and Historical Patrimony of the Church, July 1, 1991. Attended the Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, November 28 to December 14, 1991. Attended the Fourth General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, October 12 to 28, 1992. Attended the Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, April 10 to May 8, 1994, Attended the Ninth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 2 to 29, 1994. Special papal envoy to the 4th centennial celebration of the establishment of the diocese of Cebú, Philippines, April 21-28, 1995. Special papal envoy to the 4th centennial celebration of the establishment of the diocese of Nueva Segovia, Philippines, June 4 to 11, 1995. Special papal envoy to the closing of the 4th centennial celebration of the establishment of the diocese of Caceres, September 15, 1995. Resigned the prefecture of the Congregation for the Clergy, June 15, 1996. Lost the right to participate in the conclave when turned eighty years of age, March 17, 2000. Opted for the order of cardinal priests and his deaconry was elevated pro hac vice to title, February 26, 2002. While in Rome, Cardinal Sánchez resided at Via Rusticucci 13. In April 2011, he returned to the Philippines. In May 2011, he appealed to family members of Philippine President Benigno Aquino to help "enlighten" the president over the country's Reproductive Health bill. He was admitted to the University of Santo Tomas Hospital in February 2012, suffering from pneumonia and an infection; he was released two weeks later.

Death. March 9, 2012, at 4:30 a.m., Philippine time, died from multiple organ failure at the Cardinal Santos Memorial Medical Center in San Juan City, where he had been confined for a week; he spent his last hours in an artificial respirator. Upon learning the death of the cardinal, Pope Benedict XVI prayed for the eternal repose of his soul and sent a telegram of condolence to Cardinal Ricardo Jamin Vidal, archbishop emeritus of Cebu (1). On Monday March 12, the funeral Mass was celebrated at 10 a.m. and was presided over by Cardinal Vidal, who also delivered the homily. His remains were interred at a tomb specifically prepared for him in the crypt below the shrine of the Good Shepherd cathedral (2). On March 11, 2023, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) informed that the remains of Cardinal Sánchez will be reinterred from the crypt of the Novaliches cathedral in Quezon City to the Virac cathedral on March 17, 2023, his 103rd birthday.

Bibliography. Bransom, Charles. "Philippine episcopology (IV)." Boletín Eclesiástico de Filipinas, LXV, 718-719 (September-October 1989), 674.

Webgraphy. Photograph and biography, in English, Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines; photographs, Araldica Vaticana; Power To Unite with Elvira Cardinal Jose T Sanchez, pt. 2, in English, You Tube; Power To Unite with Elvira Cardinal Jose T Sanchez, pt. 3, in English, You Tube; His Eminence José Tomás Cardinal Sánchez , video, You Tube; Jose T. Cardinal Sanchez Memorial Pavilion, The Cathedral-Shrine and Parish of the Good Shepherd, Diocese of Novaliches, Regalado Avenue, Fairview Park, Quezon City, Philippines; Cardinal Sanchez’s remains to be reinterred at his home diocese, CBCP News, Manila, Philippines, March 11, 2023.

(1) This is the text of the telegram, taken from the site of the Press Office of the Holy See:

To His Eminence Cardinal Ricardo J. Vidal
Archbishop emeritus of Cebu
HAVING LEARNED WITH SADNESS OF THE DEATH OF CARDINAL JOSÉ T. SÁNCHEZ, PREFECT EMERITUS OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CLERGY, I OFFER MY CONDOLENCES TO YOU, THE MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY AND TO ALL THOSE WHO WILL JOIN YOU IN THE CELEBRATION OF THE MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL. AS I RECALL WITH GRATITUDE THE LATE CARDINAL'S DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE LORD AS A PRIEST AND BISHOP IN HIS NATIVE COUNTRY, AS WELL AS OUR SERVICE TOGETHER IN THE ROMAN CURIA DURING THE PONTIFICATE OF BLESSED JOHN PAUL II, I WILLINGLY JOIN YOU IN COMMENDING HIS NOBLE SOUL TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. I PRAY THAT HIS WITNESS WILL INSPIRE OTHERS TO DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO THE SERVICE OF THE LORD AND HIS HOLY CHURCH, ESPECIALLY IN THE PRIESTHOOD. TO ALL WHO MOURN THE DEATH OF CARDINAL SÁNCHEZ IN THE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION, I WILLINGLY IMPART MY APOSTOLIC BLESSING AS A PLEDGE OF CONSOLATION AND PEACE IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRISTI.

(2) This is the text of the inscription on his sarcophagus, kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta:

Birth. March 30, 1922, Zelata di Bereguardo, diocese of Pavia, Italy.

Education. Studied at the Seminary of Pavia; and later, at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, where he obtained a doctorate in ecclesiastical history in 1952 (dissertation: "La politica religiosa dei re longobardi").

Priesthood. Ordained, October 1, 1944, by Carlo Allorio, bishop of Pavia. Incardinated in the diocese of Pavia. Pastoral ministry at the parish of SS. Salvatore, in the outskirts of Pavia, where he created a youth movement, centered especially on the participation in the liturgy, 1944-1948. Sent to Rome in 1948 by Bishop Carlo Allorio of Pavia to further studies; he remained in Rome until 1952. Successively, 1952-1964, faculty member of the Seminary of Pavia; and of the Seminary of Tortona; counselor to the "Catholic Graduates"; president of the diocesan liturgical commission; consultant to the Italian Catholic Union of Teachers. Successively, 1964-1969, in Rome, secretary and president of the Center of Liturgical Action of Italy and faculty member of the Pontifical Liturgical Institute of S. Anselmo; director of the journal Liturgia; member of the committee for the revision of pontifical ceremonies; vice-rector of the Lombardian Seminary of Ss. Ambrogio e Carlo, 1966-1968; president of the Italian Association of Catholic Scouts. Undersecretary of the S.C. for Divine Worship, May 9, 1969. Named prelate of Honor of His Holiness on August 4, 1969. Master of Pontifical Ceremonies, January 9, 1970 to March 6, 1982. Chaplain of the Pontifical Guard, 1970. Member of the commission for the study of the role of women in society and in the church. Member of the Central Committee for Holy Year of 1975. Undersecretary of the S.C. for Sacraments and Divine Worship, section of Divine Worship, July 14, 1975. Secretary adjunct of the S.C. for Sacraments and Divine Worship, October 21, 1977.

Episcopate. Elected titular archbishop of Voncaria and appointed secretary of the Congregation for Sacraments and Divine Worship, section of Divine Worship, January 30, 1982. Consecrated, March 6, 1982, patriarchal Vatican basilica, by Pope John Paul II, assisted by Eduardo Martínez Somalo, titular archbishop of Tagora, substitute of the Secretariat of State, and by Antonio Giuseppe Angioni, bishop of Pavia. His episcopal motto was Deus meus misericordia mea. Named coadjutor of Cardinal Aurelio Sabattani, archpriest of the patriarchal Vatican basilica and delegate of the Fabric of St. Peter. President of the Permanent Commission for the Preservation of Historical and Artistic Monuments of the Holy See, May 24, 1989. Coadjutor of the vicar general of Vatican City, January 14, 1991.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of June 28, 1991; received the red biretta and the deaconry of S. Giovanni Bosco in Via Tuscolana, June 28, 1991. Archpriest of the patriarchal Vatican basilica, vicar general of Vatican City, president of the Fabric of Saint Peter, July 1, 1991. President of the Cardinalitial Commission for the Pontifical Shrines of Pompeii, Loreto and Bari, September 12, 1993; the commission was abolished in 1996. He was a member of the Congregations for the Causes of Saints and for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Opted for the order of cardinal priests and the title of Regina Apostolorum, February 26, 2002. Lost the right to participate in the conclave when turned eighty years of age, March 30, 2002. Resigned posts, April 24, 2002.

Death. July 24, 2011, in the morning, Rome. Upon learning the news of the death of the cardinal, Pope Benedict XVI prayed for the eternal repose of his soul and sent a telegram of condolence to his sister, Signora Maria Noè. The exequial liturgy, presided over by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, and concelebrated by the other cardinals, archbishops and bishops, took place at Altar of the Chair of the papal Vatican basilica on Tuesday July 26, 2011, at 10 a.m. Cardinal Sodano also delivered the homily. He was buried in the chapel of the canons of the papal Vatican basilica in the Roman cemetery of Campo Verano.

Bibliography. Noè, Virgilio. The holy door in St. Peter. Translated by Iris Jones ; editor, Frida Giannini. Roma : ATS Italia editrice ; [Città del Vaticano] : Libreria editrice vaticana, 1999; Noè, Virgilio. La Madonna nella Basilica vaticana. Città del Vaticano : Libreria editrice vaticana, 1994; La Porta Santa della Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano. Roma : ATS Italia editrice ; [Città del Vaticano] : Libreria editrice vaticana, 1999; Noè, Virgilio. I santi fondatori nella Basilica Vaticana. Modena : F.C. Panini, 1996; Noè, Virgilio. Le tombe e i monumenti funebri dei papi nella Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano. Modena [Italy] : F.C. Panini, 2000.

Webgraphy. Photograph and biography, in Italian, Sala Stampa della Santa Sede; photograph and biography, in English, Catholic News Agency; photograph and biography, in English, Holy See Press Office; biography, in English, Wikipedia; photographs and biography, in Italian, Santi e Beati; his arms, Araldica Vaticana; diocese of Pavia, in Italian; 10 anni fa la morte del Cardinale Virgilio Noè by Marco Mancini, Città del Vaticano, 24 luglio, 2021 / 12:30 AM; Diocesi: Pavia, domani in cattedrale si ricorda il card. Virgilio Noè a 10 anni dalla morte, Servizio Informazione Religiosa, 24 Luglio 2021 @ 15:33; Un servitore della liturgia, Virgilio cardinal Noè by Don Riccardo Santagostino Baldi, ACI Stampa, Città del Vaticano, 12 agosto, 2021 / 12:30 AM; Al servizio di una liturgia celebrata e vissuta. Cento anni fa la nascita del cardinale Virgilio Noè by Arthur Roche, Prefetto Congregazione per il Culto Divino e la Disciplina dei Sacramenti, L'Osservatore Romano, 30 marzo 2022.

(1) This is the text of the inscription on his tom, kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta:

(95) 10. QUARRACINO, Antonio
(1923-1998)

Birth. August 8, 1923, Pollica, diocese of Vallo della Lucania, Italy; his family migrated to Argentina when he was four years old. The family settled in San Andrés de Giles.

Education. Studied at the Seminary of San José, La Plata.

Priesthood. Ordained, December 22, 1945, Luján. Incardinated in the diocese of Mercedes. Successively, 1945-1962, professor at the Seminary of Mercedes; secretary of the diocesan curia; ecclesiastical assessor of the Council of the Catholic Youth Action; diocesan consultor; professor of theology at the Pontifical Catholic University Santa María de los Buenos Aires; founder of the Choir and Professorship Institute Ciudad de Mercedes.

Episcopate. Elected bishop of Nueve de Julio, February 3, 1962. Consecrated, April 8, 1962, Mercedes, by Anunciado Serafini, bishop of Mercedes, assisted by Adolfo Servando Tortolo, bishop of Catamarca, and by Raúl Francisco Primatesta, bishop of San Rafael. His episcopal motto was Ipsi gloria. Took possession of the see the following April 8. Attended the Second Vatican Council, 1962-1965. He was one of the first bishops to integrate and support the Movimiento de Sacerdotes para el Tercer Mundo (Movement of Priests for the Third World). Transferred to the see of Avellaneda, August 3, 1968. He built the new cathedral of Avellaneda. Secretary general of the Latin American Episcopal Council, 1979-1982; president, 1982-1987. Attended the Third General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate, Puebla, México, January 27 to February 13, 1979; the Fifth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 26 to October 25, 1980; the Sixth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 29 to October 28, 1983; the Second Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, November 24 to December 8, 1985. Promoted to the metropolitan see of La Plata, December 18, 1985. Transferred to the metropolitan and primatial see of Buenos Aires, July 10, 1990. Ordinary for the Oriental rite faithfuls residing in Argentina without their own ordinary, November 20, 1990. President of the Episcopal Conference of Argentina, 1990-1996.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of June 28, 1991; received the red biretta and the title of S. Maria della Salute a Primavalle, June 28, 1991. Attended the Fourth General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, October 12 to 28, 1992. Member of the Council of Cardinals for the Study of the Organizational and Economic Problems of the Holy See, December 2, 1993. On April 14, 1997, he inaugurated the Commemorative Mural to the Holocaust victims, and to those killed in the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires and the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) attacks; the only memorial in all the world with those characteristics located within a Christian temple.

Death. February 28, 1998, of cardiac arrest, Buenos Aires. The funeral took place in the metropolitan cathedral of Buenos Aires on March 4, presided by Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., of Buenos Aires, and concelebrated by two cardinals, eighty bishops and 400 priests. Buried in the chapel of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, in front of the altar of Nuestra Señora de Luján in the metropolitan cathedral of Buenos Aires (1).

Webgraphy. Photograph, arms and biography, in Spanish, Wikipedia; photograph, arms and biography, in English, Wikipedia; photograph, arms and biography, in German, Wikipedia; photograph, arms and biography, in Polish, Wikipedia; photographs and arms, Araldica Vaticana; A los 74 años, murió el cardenal Quarracino by Sergio Rubi, Clarín.com, Domingo 01.03.1998; Recuerdo del cardenal Quarracino by Norberto Padilla, Criterio, Nº 2212, Marzo 1998; ceremony in the metropolitan cathedral of Buenos Aires on the 5th anniversary of his death, The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation; Hace 20 años murió el Cardenal que llamaba “el santito” al hoy Papa Francisco, ACI Prensa, 28 de febrero de 2018 4:52 pm.

(1) This is the inscription in his tomb, kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta:

Birth. August 1, 1916, Campo Marzio, Rome, Italy, to a couple originating from Carsòli, province of L’Aquila.

Education. Studied at the Pontifical Roman Seminary; at the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome; and at the Pontifical Theological Faculty Marianum, Rome.

Priesthood. Ordained, February 3, 1940. Pastoral ministry, diocese of Rome, 1940-1956. National Ecclesiastical Assistant of the Men's Catholic Action, 1945-1959. Master of Pontifical Ceremonies, 1947-1954. Commendatario of S. Spirito in Sassia, delegate of the cardinal vicar of Rome for clinics and hospitals. Ecclesiastical assistant of the Union of Men of the Catholic Action.

Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Messene and appointed Commendatory of Santo Spirito, June 27, 1956. Consecrated, July 29, 1956, church of S. Ignazio, Rome, by Cardinal Giuseppe Pizzardo, bishop of Albano, secretary of the Supreme S.C. of the Holy Office, prefect of the S.C. of Seminaries and Universities, assisted by Luigi Traglia, titular archbishop of Cesarea di Palestina, vice-gerent of Rome, and by Mario Ismaele Castellano, bishop of Volterra, assistant general of the Italian Catholic Action. His episcopal motto was Evangelizo pacem evangelizo bonum. Founder and National Ecclesiastical Assistant of the Association of Italian Catholic Physicians in 1959. Attended the Second Vatican Council, 1962-1965. Delegate for hospitals for the cardinal vicar of Rome, 1967-1985. Auxiliary bishop of Rome, January 6, 1977 to February 16, 1985. Promoted to the dignity of archbishop and appointed pro-president of the Pontifical Commission for the Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers, February 16, 1985. Attended the Seventh Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 1 to 30, 1987. President of the Pontifical Commission for the Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers, March 1, 1989. Attended the Eighth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 30 to October 28, 1990.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of June 28, 1991; received the red biretta and the deaconry of S. Spirito in Sassia, June 28, 1991. Attended the Special Assembly of Synod of Bishops for Europe, Vatican City, November 28 to December 14, 1991; the Special Assembly of Synod of Bishops for Africa, April 10 to May 8, 1994; the Ninth Ordinary Assembly of Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 2 to 29, 1994. Special papal envoy to the opening of the celebrations of the Fifth centennial of Saint John of God's birth, Montemor-o-Nuovo, Portugal, March 8, 1995. Special papal envoy to the Fourth World Day of the Sick, held at the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, México, México, February 11, 1996. Lost the right to participate in the conclave when turned eighty years of age, August 1, 1996. Resigned the presidency of the Pontifical Commission for the Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers, October 31, 1996. Special papal envoy to the Fifth World Day of the Sick, held at the shrine of Our Lady of Fátima, Portugal, February 11, 1997; to the Seventh World Day of the Sick, February 11, 1999, Harissa, Lebanon. Opted for order of priests and his deaconry was elevated pro hac vice to title, February 26, 2002.

Death. November 22, 2014. At the House of the Sisters of the Santo Volto, in via della Conciliazione 15, Rome, where he resided. Upon learning the news of the death of the cardinal, Pope Benedict XVI sent a telegram of condolence to Signore Vinicio Angelini. The exequies took place on Monday November 24, 2014, at 3 p.m., at the Altar of the Cathedra of the papal Vatican basilica. The liturgy was celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, together with the other cardinals, archbishops and bishops. At the end of the celebration, the pope presided over the rite of the Ultima Commendatio and of the Valedictio. According to his wishes, the body of the late cardinal was buried in the chapel of the Mother House of the Benedictine Sisters of the Reparation of the Holy Face of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Bassano Romano, province of Viterbo, in order to rest near the founder of the congregation, Venerable Ildebrando Gregori, abbot general of the Sylvestrine Benedictines.

Bibliography. Fiorenzo Angelini. Prete romano aperto al mondo. Curato dall’Istituto internazionale di ricerca sul volto di Cristo. Gorle : Editrice Velar, 2017.

Webgraphy. His arms and biography, in English, Wikipedia; his arms, Araldica Vaticana; Ruvidezza e generosità di un prete. In ricordo di Fiorenzo Angelini by Beniamino Stella, L'Osservatore Romano, 22 novembre 2017.

(1) This is the inscription on his vault, kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta:

Birth. February 27, 1936, Hollywood, archdiocese of Los Angeles, United States of America. Son of Victor James Mahony, owner of a poultry processing plant, and Loretta Baron. He has a twin brother, Louis James, and an older brother, Neil Anthony.

Education. Studied at Our Lady of Los Angeles Preseminary, Los Angeles; at Our Lady of Angels Seminary, Mission Hill. Incardinated in the diocese of Monterey-Fresno. Also studied at the Catholic University of America, Washington (doctorate in social work). Besides his native English, he is fluent in Spanish.

Priesthood. Ordained, May 1, 1962, St. John's cathedral, Fresno, by Aloysius J. Willinger, C.Ss.R., bishop of Monterey-Fresno. Successively, 1962-1963, pastoral ministry in the diocese of Monterey-Fresno. As a young priest, he celebrated Mass with Mexican fieldworkers and worked with César Chávez to fight for better farmworker conditions. He served on the Mexican-American Council for Better Housing and led the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board, where he oversaw the implementation of sweeping labor reforms for farmworkers. Diocesan director of Catholic Charities and Social Services, 1964-1970. When the diocese of Monterey-Fresno was split into the dioceses of Monterey and Fresno on October 6, 1967, Father Mahony was incardinated in the diocese of Fresno. Pastoral ministry in the diocese of Fresno, 1967-1973. Further studies, Washington, D.C. Diocesan chancellor, 1970-1980. Diocesan consultor and pastor of St. John's cathedral, 1973-1975.

Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Tamascani and appointed auxiliary of Fresno, January 2, 1975. Consecrated, March 19, 1975, Fresno Convention Center, by Hugh A. Donohoe, bishop of Fresno, assisted by William Robert Johnson, titular bishop of Blera, auxiliary of Los Angeles, and by John Stephen Cummins, titular bishop of Lambesi, auxiliary of Sacramento. His episcopal motto is To reconcile God's people. Transferred to the see of Stockton, February 15, 1980. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Los Angeles, July 12, 1985. In 1986, he founded The Catholic Education Foundation, which has given away more than $108 million in scholarships to disadvantaged children. Attended the Seventh Ordinary Assembly of Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 1 to 30, 1987.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of June 28, 1991; received red biretta and title of Ss. Quattro Coronati, June 28, 1991. Member of the Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organizational and Economic Problems of the Holy See, July 15, 1991. Attended Special Assembly for America of Synod of Bishops, November 16 to December 12, 1997, Vatican City; president delegate. Participated in the conclave of April 18 to 19, 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI. Participated in the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, October 10 to 24, 2010, at Vatican City. The cardinal has acknowledged mistakes in how he handled the clergy abuse scandal. He announced his retirement plans on January 16, 2011. Retired as archbishop of Los Angeles when he turned seventy five years old on February 27, 2011, and was succeeded by Archbishop coadjutor José Horacio Gómez, of the personal prelature of Opus Dei. On March 1, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI accepted his resignation from the pastoral government of the archdiocese in conformity to canon 401 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law. On January 31, 2013, he was removed by his successor, Archbishop Gómez, from any administrative or public duties because of the way he handled allegations of priest sexual abuse. Participated in the conclave of March 12 to 13, 2013, which elected Pope Francis. Lost the right to participate in the conclave when turned eighty years old on February 27, 2016. On January 13, 2018, the Pope named him special papal envoy to the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the erection of the diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States of America, programmed for March 4, 2018.

Bibliography. Bransom, Charles N. Ordinations of U. S. Catholic bishops 1790-1989. A chronological list. Washington, D.C. : National Conference of Catholic Bishops ; United States Catholic Conference, 1990, p. 169-170; Schippe, C. "Mahony, Roger Michael." New Catholic encyclopedia : jubilee volume, the Wojtyła years. Detroit, MI : Gale Group in association with the Catholic University of America, 2001, p. 350-351.

Webgraphy. Photograph and biography, in Italian, Sala Stampa della Santa Sede; photograph and biography, in English, Holy See Press Office; his arms, Araldica Vaticana; Cardinal Mahony calls Trump’s pardon of Sheriff Arpaio ‘disgusting’ by Christopher White, Crux, August 28, 2017; Pope Francis Appoints Special Envoy for Anniversary Celebration, The Diocese of Scranton; Il Card. Mahony compie 80 anni. Gli elettori scendono a quota 116 by Marco Mancini, ACI Stampa, Los Ángeles, 27 febbraio, 2016 / 4:00 PM; Disgraced Cardinal Mahony pulls out of Catholic fundraiser amid sex abuse furor by Lisa Bourne, LifeSite, Wed Aug 22, 2018 - 7:30 am EST; Card Mahony encourages US bishops to take the ‘pathway to constructive dialogue’ by Sr. Bernadette Reis, fsp, Vatican News, 15 November 2021, 15:00, with audio; Cardinal Mahony attacks fellow bishops in interview published by the Vatican News service ahead of USCCB vote by Alejandro Bermudez, Catholic News Agency, Denver Newsroom, Nov 16, 2021 / 13:50 pm; Cardenal Mahony ataca a sus hermanos obispos de EEUU en entrevista con Vatican News by Alejamdro Bermúdez, ACI Prensa, 16 de noviembre de 2021 - 5:50 PM; US Bishops Snub Cardinal Mahony’s Puzzling Intervention by Father Raymond J. de Souza, National Catholic Register, November 23, 2021.

Birth. November 10, 1926, Salvatierra, archdiocese of Morelia, México. Son of Juan Bautista Posadas Díaz and María Ocampo Pérez, merchants.

Education. Entered the Seminary of Morelia, Morelia, when he was eleven years old.

Priesthood. Ordained, September 23, 1950, Morelia. Successively, 1950-1970, in Morelia, vicar of Pátazcuaro; professor of Latin, philosophy and theology at the seminary; its prefect of studies; and later, its vice-rector. Canon of the cathedral chapter.

Episcopate. Elected bishop of Tijuana, March 21, 1970. Consecrated, June 14, 1970, Morelia, by Manuel Martín del Campo y Padilla, archbishop of Morelia, assisted by Alfredo Galindo Mendoza, M.Sp.S., bishop emeritus of Tijuana, and by Román Acevedo Rojas, titular bishop of Tamugadi, auxiliary of Morelia. Transferred to the see of Cuernavaca, December 28, 1982. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Guadalajara, May 15, 1987. First vice-president of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), 1991-1993.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest, June 28, 1991; received the red biretta and the title of Nostra Signora di Guadalupe e S. Filippo Martire in Via Aurelia, June 28, 1991. Attended the Fourth General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, October 12 to 28, 1992. Special papal envoy to the National Marian Eucharistic Congress, San Salvador, El Salvador, November 26 to 29, 1992.

Death. Assassinated in the airport of Guadalajara, May 24, 1993, at around 3:30 p.m.; he was hit fourteen times by an AK-47 automatic rifle; the criminal case was still unresolved as of 2018. Buried in the metropolitan cathedral of Guadalajara.

Bibliography. Becerra Pedrote, Jesús. li Sciacalli. Los Chacales. The Jackals., 2014; Ramos, Víctor M. La muerte de un píncipe. Guadalajara : Editorial Conexión Gráfica, 1993; .

Webgraphy. Assassinated Mexican Cardinal Remembered in New Book by Deborah Castellano Lubov, Zenit, The world seen from Rome, May 21, 2014; Cardenal Sandoval revela cinco puntos clave del Caso Posadas by David Ramos, ACI Prensa, 20 de mayo de 2016 6:33 pm, with video; Se cumplen 25 años del asesinato del Cardenal Posadas en México, ACI Prensa, 24 de mayo de 2018 7:49 pm; Asesinato Cardenal Posadas Ocampo: A 29 años el caso sigue abiertoby Román Ortega, El Occidental, Guadalajara, 23 de mayo de 2022.

Birth. June 17, 1923, Brooklyn, United States of America; of Italian parents who had migrated around 1913. He was the ninth of the eleven children of Luigi Bevilacqua, a stone cutter and cobbler who owned a hair dying shop and a shoe shine shop in Woodhaven, Queens, New York, and Maria Codella. He worked as a bricklayer in Italy prior to his immigration to the United States. They could barely read or speak English, and inadvertently joined an Episcopal parish upon arriving, thinking that it was Catholic.

Education. He received his elementary and secondary education at Public School No. 60; St. Thomas the Apostle School; and Richmond Hill High School; he entered Cathedral College, Brooklyn; and later studied at the Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington; the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he obtained a doctorate in canon law; and Columbia University, New York, where he earned a master's in political science; and finally, St. John's University, Queens, where he obtained a doctorate in law.

Priesthood. Ordained on June 11, 1949, St. James cathedral, Brooklyn. Successively, pastoral ministry in the diocese of Brooklyn and faculty member of the Cathedral College, 1949-1954; further studies, Rome, 1954-1956. In the diocese of Brooklyn, 1956-1980, chaplain of religious women; diocesan vice-chancellor; faculty member of its seminary; official in the diocesan tribunal; founder of the Catholic Office for Migrants and Refugees, 1971; diocesan chancellor, 1976-1980; faculty member, St. John's University, 1977-1980. Prelate of honor of His Holiness, January 23, 1976.

Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Acque Albe di Bizacena and appointed auxiliary of Brooklyn, October 4, 1980. Consecrated, November 24, 1980, basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Brooklyn, by Francis J. Mugavero, bishop of Brooklyn, assisted by John Joseph Snyder, bishop of Saint Augustine, and by Charles Richard Mulrooney, titular bishop of Valentiniana, auxiliary of Brooklyn. In the same ceremony were consecrated Joseph Michael Sullivan, titular bishop of Suliana, auxiliary of Brooklyn; and Rene Arnold Valero, titular bishop of Vico della Torre, auxiliary of Brooklyn. His episcopal motto was Ecclesia mater nostra. Transferred to the see of Pittsburgh on October 10, 1983. Attended the Seventh Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 1 to 30, 1987. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Philadelphia on February 11, 1988.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of June 28, 1991; received the red biretta and the title of Ss. Redentore e S. Alfonso in Via Merulana on June 28, 1991. From 1995 to 2000, he hosted a live weekly radio call-in program, "Live with Cardinal Bevilacqua", which aired on WZZD-AM in Philadelphia. Special papal envoy to the 5th National Eucharistic Congress, Manila, Philippines, from January 24 to 26, 1997. Attended the Special Assembly for America of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, from November 16 to December 12, 1997. Lost the right to participate in the conclave when turned 80 years old on June 17, 2003. Resigned the pastoral government of the archdiocese, July 15, 2003. Apostolic administrator of Philadelphia from July 15 to October 7, 2003. Upon his retirement, he lived in his residence on the grounds of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, and was rarely seen in public. In February 2011, it was reported that the cardinal was suffering from cancer and dementia. He was sharply criticized but never charged by two Philadelphia grand juries investigating child sex abuse complaints lodged against several priests in the archdiocese. Lawyers battled in court over his competency as a witness in an upcoming church-abuse case involving his longtime aide, and his death came just days after. A day before his death, he was ruled competent to testify at the child endangerment trial of a longtime aide.

Death. January 31, 2012, at about 9:15 p.m., of heart disease, with a contributing factor of prostate cancer and advanced stages of dementia, in his sleep, in his residence on the grounds of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, archdiocese of Philadelphia. Upon learning the news of the death of the cardinal, Pope Benedict XVI sent Charles Chaput, O.F.M.Cap., archbishop of Philadelphia, a telegram of condolence (1). Following a private viewing at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Archbishop Chaput received the body at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on Monday, February 6, 2012 at approximately 5:30 p.m. A public viewing took place at the cathedral basilica from 5:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. There was also a public viewing on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Solemn Funeral Mass for Cardinal Bevilacqua began at 2:00 p.m. followed by the Rite of Committal in the cathedral crypt, located beneath the main altar. The main celebrant of the funeral Mass was Archbishop Chaput and the homilist was Monsignor Louis D'Addezio. Among the concelebrants of the Mass were Cardinal Justin Francis Rigali, archbishop emeritus of Philadelphia, successor to the late cardinal; Antonio Maria Viganò, titular archbishop of Ulpiana, nuncio to the United States; and dozens of bishops and hundreds of priests. Present were Cardinals Edward Michael Egan, archbishop emeritus of New York; Theodore Edgar McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of Washington; and Donald William Wuerl, archbishop of Washington. Also present were the surviving brother and sister of the late cardinal with other members of the family.

Bibliography. Annuario Pontificio per l'anno 1977. Città del Vaticano : Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1977, p. 1656; Bransom, Charles N. Ordinations of U. S. Catholic bishops 1970-1989. A chronological list. Washington, D.C. : National Conference of Catholic Bishops ; United States Catholic Conference, 1990, p. 183; McNally, Michael J. "Bevilacqua, Anthony Joseph." New Catholic encyclopedia : jubilee volume, the Wojtyła years. Detroit, MI : Gale Group in association with the Catholic University of America, 2001, p. 260.

Webgraphy. His arms, Araldica Vaticana; Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua: Prince of the People, part 1, in English, You Tube; Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua: Prince of the People, part 2, in English, You Tube; Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua: Prince of the People, part 3, in English, You Tube; Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua dies at the age of 88, in English, Catholic Philly, February 1st, 2012; County coroner: Cardinal Bevilacqua died of natural causes by Matthew Gambino, Catholic News Service, Mar. 8, 2012.

(1) This is the text of the telegram, taken from the Press Office of the Holy See:

Birth. December 11, 1924, Cantù, archdiocese of Milan, Italy. Eldest child of Mario Saldarini and Adele Carugati. The other siblings were Giuseppe and Palmira. He was baptized in the parish of S. Michele Arcangelo, Milan, on December 21, 1924; and received the sacrament of confirmation from Cardinal Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster, O.S.B., archbishop of Milan.

Education. Studied at S. Pietro Martire Seminary, Venegono, from 1938; later, at the Theological Faculty, Milan, where he obtained the license in Sacred Theology; and then, at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome, where he obtained a license in Sacred Scriptures.

Priesthood. Ordained, May 31, 1947, cathedral of Milan, by Cardinal Schuster, O.S.B. Faculty member, archiepiscopal school, Desio, 1947-1949. Further studies, Rome, 1949-1952. Professor of Sacred Scriptures at the Seminary of Venegono, 1952-1967. Pastor of the parish of Santi Ambrogio e Simpliciano, in Carate Brianza, Milan, 1967-1974. Pastor of the parish of S. Babila, in the center of Milano, 1974-1983. Prelate of honor of His Holiness, April 24, 1979. Episcopal vicar for the first pastoral zone of Milan, which comprised 23 deanships and 180 parishes, March 17, 1982. Pro-vicar general in charge of the pastoral programs of the archdiocese of Milan, June 18, 1983. Major canon of the metropolitan chapter, September 22, 1983.

Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Gaudiaba and appointed auxiliary of Milan, November 10, 1984. Consecrated, December 7, 1984, Milan, by Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, S.J., archbishop of Milan, assisted by Cardinal Giovanni Colombo, archbishop emeritus of Milan, and by Giulio Oggioni, bishop of Bergamo. His episcopal motto was Adiutor gaudii vestri. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Turin, January 31, 1989.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of June 28, 1991; received the red biretta and the title of Sacro Cuore di Gesù a Castro Pretorio, deaconry elevated pro hac vice to title, June 28, 1991. Resigned the pastoral government of the archdiocese because of bad health, June 19, 1999. Since his resignation he resided in the parish of S. Francesco di Paola, via Montenapoleone 22, Milan. Lost the right to participate in the conclave when turned 80 years old, December 11, 2004.

Death. April 18, 2011, shortly after 7 p.m., in Clinica San Giuseppe, Milan. After learning the news of the death of the cardinal, Pope Benedict XVI sent Cesare Nosiglia, archbishop of Turin, a telegram of condolence (1). From that evening, the body of the cardinal was exposed in the parish church of S. Francesco di Paola, where he had resided since his retirement in 1999; around 11 p.m., it was visited by the archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, who prayed before it. The mortuary chapel in that church remained open until Tuesday April 19 in the afternoon. Also in that church, on Tuesday, at 6 p.m., presided by the archbishop of Milan, took place the recitation of the Holy Rosary and Holy Mass of suffrage was celebrated at 6:30 p.m. After the celebration of suffrage, the body was moved to the cathedral of Turin, where it was exposed and the funeral was held. The funeral, presided over by Archbishop Nosiglia, took place on April 20, 2011, at 3:30 p.m., in the metropolitan cathedral of Turin. Archbishop Nosiglia delivered the homily. The body of the cardinal was laid to rest, according to his will, in that cathedral, next to the altar dedicated to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, the Turinese youth of the Catholic Action beatified in 1990 (2). Cardinal Tettamanzi was present at the funeral. Upon learning the news of the death of Cardinal Saldarini, Pope Benedict XVI prayed for the eternal repose of his soul and sent a telegram of condolence to Archbishop Nosiglia of Turin.

Webgraphy. Photographs, arms and biography, in Italian, Santi e beati; biography, in English, Wikipedia; photograph and biography, in Italian, archdiocese of Turin; his arms, Araldica Vaticana; Dieci anni fa la morte del Cardinale Saldarini by Marco Mancini, ACI Stampa, Torino , 18 aprile, 2021 / 2:00 PM.

(1) This is the text of the telegram, taken from the Press Office of the Holy See:

Birth. October 1, 1917, village of Loughguile, on the edge of the Glens of Antrim, diocese of Down and Connor, Ireland. Third of the seven children of Charles Daly, a primary school teacher originally from Keadue in Co Roscommon, and Susan Connolly, from Co Antrim; the other siblings were John, Nicholas, Margaret, Sheila, Rosaleen and Patrick. As a child in North Antrim, he saw the Irish Republican Army (IRA) burn his home in an attack on police billeted next door.

Education. Primary education, St. Patrick's National School, Loughguile; secondary education, as a boarder, at St. Malachy's College, Belfast, August 25, 1930-1934, where novelist Brian Moore was a contemporary; Queen's University, Belfast, September 1934-1937 (classics degree); at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth (Ireland's national seminary), September 1937-1941 (philosophy and theology; master's thesis: "The Church in North Africa in the time of Tertulian", August 1938; doctorate in divinity, 1944); sabbatical year, 1952-1953, took courses in theology and philosophy in Paris at Institut Catholique (licentiate in philosophy), La Sorbonne University; Collège de France. He has said he does not remember any time when he did not want to be a priest.

Priesthood. Ordained, June 22, 1941, College Chapel, St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, by Daniel Mageean, bishop of Down and Connor. From 1941-1967: further studies; Classics master in St Malachy's College, Belfast, 1945-1946; In 1946 lecturer in Scholastic Philosophy at Queen's University, Belfast, from 1946; reader in Scholastic Philosophy at Queen's University, Belfast, 1963 to 1967. Attended the Second Vatican Council, 1962-1965, as assistant to William Philbin, bishop of Down and Connor, and to Cardinal William Conway, archbishop of Armagh.

Episcopate. Elected bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, May 26, 1967. Consecrated, July 16, 1967, St. Mel's cathedral, Longford, by Cardinal William Conway, archbishop of Armagh, assisted by Giuseppe Maria Sensi, titular archbishop of Sardes, nuncio to Portugal, and by Neil Farren, bishop of Derry. His episcopal motto was Jesus Christus heri et hodie. Attended the Fourth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 30 to October 29, 1977. Transferred to see of Down and Connor, August 24, 1982. He frequently used that pulpit to denounce the killings and policies of the IRA and its allied Sinn Fein party. Attended the Seventh Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 1 to 30, 1987; the Eighth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 30 to October 28, 1990. Promoted to metropolitan and primatial see of Armagh, November 6, 1990; he was the most elderly man to take up this role for nearly 200 years.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of June 28, 1991; received the red biretta and the title of S. Patrizio, June 28, 1991. Attended the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Europe, Vatican City, November 28 to December 14, 1991; the Ninth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 2 to 29, 1994. Resigned the pastoral government of the archdiocese, October 1, 1996. Lost the right to participate in the conclave when turned eighty years of age, October 1, 1997. He wrote extensively on philosophy as well as on the conflict in Northern Ireland and continued to study after his retirement. He was prominent in the Irish Catholic bishops' delegation to the New Ireland Forum in 1983 and contributed to the work of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation, established after the first IRA ceasefire of 1994. He is also believed to have been the author of Pope John Paul II's Drogheda speech in September 1979 appealing to the IRA to end its violence.

Death. December 31, 2009, of cardiac failure after a long history of heart trouble, at 6:45 p.m., in the presence of relatives and friends, at the coronary care unit of Belfast City Hospital. After learning the news of the death of the cardinal, Pope Benedict XVI sent Cardinal Seán Baptist Brady, archbishop of Armagh,a telegram of condolence (1). The remains of the late cardinal arrived at Belfast's St. Peter's cathedral at noon on Saturday January 2, 2010, where they reposed. On Sunday at 5.30 p.m., the remains were transferred to St. Patrick's cathedral in Armagh. The funeral Mass was held at noon on Tuesday January 5, 2010. He was buried in the cathedral grounds beside his three immediate predecessors: Cardinals Tomás O'Fiach, William Conway and John D'Alton (1). He was survived by his sister Rosaleen, his brother Patrick and sisters-in-law Barbara and Mavis, his nieces and nephews, and extended family. Statements lamenting his death and praising his life were issued by the Primate of all-Ireland Cardinal Seán Brady, his successor; President Mary McAleese of Ireland; Taoiseach Brian Cowen; Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny; Northern Ireland's deputy first minister Martin; former Great Britain Prime Minister Tony Blair; the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, The Most Reverend Alan Harper; the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Dr. Stafford Carson; and the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Reverend Donald P. Ker, among others.

Bibliography. Daly, Cahal B. ; Worrall, A. S. Ballymascanlon : an Irish venture in inter-church dialogue. Belfast : Christian Journals ; Dublin : Veritas Publication, 1978; Daly, Cahal B. The breaking of bread: biblical reflections on the Eucharist. Dublin: Veritas, 2008. Contents: Part I: Old Testament: eucharist veiled -- Part II. New Testament: eucharist unveiled. Abstract: "I felt conscious of the fact, that so far as I knew, no book on the Eucharist in English provided such a rich biblical background to the mystery of the Eucharist and that this represented a loss to English-speaking readers, anxious to deepen their eucharistic faith and devotion. . . . [This book] is something between a book of biblical theology and a prayer book"-- Foreword; Daly, Cahal B. The minding of planet earth. Dublin : Veritas, 2004; Daly, Cahal B. Moral philosophy in Britain : from Bradley to Wittgenstein. Blackrock, Co. Dublin : Four Courts Press, 1996; Daly, Cahal B. Morals, law, and life. Chicago : Scepter, 1966; Daly, Cahal B. Peace, the work of justice : addresses on the northern tragedy 1973-79. Dublin : Veritas, 1980; Daly, Cahal B. Philosophical papers. Dublin : Four Courts Press, 2007; Daly, Cahal B. The price of peace. Belfast : Blackstaff Press, 1991; Daly, Cahal B. Steps on my pilgrim journey : memories and reflections. Dublin, Ireland : Veritas Publications, 1998; Daly, Cahal B. Tertullian the Puritan and his influence : an essay in historical theology. Blackrock : Four Courts Press, 1993; Daly, Cahal B. Violence in Ireland and Christian conscience : from addresses given by Cahal B. Daly.. Dublin : Veritas Publications, 1973.

Webgraphy. Photograph, arms and biography, in English, archdiocese of Armagh; his portrait by David Hone, Naughton Gallery at Queen's, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK; his arms, Araldica Vaticana.

(1) This is the text of the telegram, taken from the Press Office of the Holy See:

Birth. February 19, 1931, Sassuolo, diocese of Reggio Emilia, Italy. Son of Francesco Ruini, a surgeon, and Iolanda Rizzoli. His sister Donatella died on February 22, 2022 at 85 years old.

Education. Studied at the Seminary of Reggio Emilia; and at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, where he earned a doctorate in theology.

Priesthood. Ordained, December 8, 1954, Rome, by Luigi Traglia, titular archbishop of Cesarea di Palestina, vice-gerent of Rome. Further studies, Rome, 1954-1957. Faculty member, Seminary of Reggio Emilia, 1957-1968. Faculty member, Interdiocesan Theological Seminary of Modena-Reggio Emilia, 1968-1986; director, 1968-1977. Faculty member, Academic Theological Seminary of Bologna, 1977-1983. In the diocese of Reggio Emilia, diocesan assessor of the Catholic physicians; episcopal delegate for the Catholic Action; episcopal vicar for lay apostolate; president of the Diocesan Cultural Center "Giovanni XXIII"; president of the diocesan consult for school pastoral, 1975-1986.

Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Nepte and appointed auxiliary of Reggio Emilia, May 16, 1983. Consecrated, June 29, 1983, Reggio Emilia, by Gilberto Baroni, bishop of Reggio Emilia, assisted by Francesco Tarcisio Bertozzi, bishop of Faenza, and by Renato Spallanzani, bishop of Palestrina. His episcopal motto is Veritas liberabit nos. Secretary general of the Episcopal Conference of Italy, June 28, 1986. Attended the Eighth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 30 to October 28, 1990; member of the general secretariat, 1990-1994. Promoted to the rank of archbishop and appointed pro-vicar general of Rome and pro-archpriest of the patriarchal Lateran archbasilica, January 17, 1991. President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, 1991- .

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of June 28, 1991; received the red biretta and the title of S. Agnese fuori le Mura, June 28, 1991. Vicar general of Rome, archpriest of the patriarchal Lateran archbasilica, and grand chancellor of the Pontifical Lateran University, July 1, 1991. Member of Council of Cardinals for the Study of the Organizational and Economic Problems of Holy See, July 15, 1991. Attended the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Europe, Vatican City, November 28 to December 14, 1991. President of the Peregrinatio ad Petri Sedem, December 29, 1992 until November 8, 1997. Attended the Ninth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 2 to 29, 1994. Special papal envoy to the opening of celebrations of the 4th centenary of the shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ghiara, Reggio Emilia, Italy, April 29, 1996. Resigned the presidency, May 2, 1996. Papal legate to the 23rd National Eucharistic Congress, Bologna, September 20 to 28, 1997. Attended the Second Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 1 to 23, 1999. Special papal envoy to the conclusive celebrations of the synod of the dioceses of Belarus, Minsk, September 29 to 30, 2000. Papal legate for the closing of the Holy Door at the Lateran basilica, January 5, 2001. Confirmed by the pope as president of the Italian Episcopal Conference for another quinquennial term, March 6, 2001. Attended the Tenth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 30 to October 27, 2001. Participated in the conclave of April 18 to 19, 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI. Special papal envoy to the 24th Italian Eucharistic Congress, Bari, May 21 to 29, 2005. Attended the Eleventh General Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 2 to 23, 2005. Confirmed by the pope as president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, donec aliter provideatur, February 14, 2006. On March 7, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI accepted his resignation, upon having reached the age limit, to the charge of president of the Italian Episcopal Conference. Special papal envoy to the conclusive celebrations of the "Missioni Cittadine Europee", Budapest, Hungary, September 16 to 22, 2007. Resigned the posts of vicar general of His Holiness for Rome and archpriest of the papal Lateran archbasilica for having reached the age limit, June 27, 2008. Named president of the International Commission of Inquiry on Medjugorje, March 17, 2010. Lost the right to participate in the conclave when turned eighty years old on February 19, 2011.

Bibliography. Ruini, Camillo. C’è un dopo? La morte e la speranza. Roma : Mondadori, 2016; Ruini, Camillo ; Galli, Andrea. Intervista su Dio. Le parole della fede, il cammino della ragione. Milano : Mondadori, 2012. (Saggi).

Webgraphy. Photograph and biography, in Italian, Sala Stampa della Santa Sede; photograph and biography, in English, Holy See Press Office; his arms, photographs and portrait, Araldica Vaticana; Il "dopo" e la speranza cristiana, a colloquio con il cardinale Camillo Ruini by Angela Ambrogetti and Marco Mancini, ACI Stampa, Città del Vaticano, 28 dicembre, 2016 / 10:00 AM; The Conclusions of the Ruini Report on Medjugorje by Andrea Tornielli/CNA/EWTN News, National Catholic Register, May 17, 2017; Cardinal Ruini’s Return to the Field. On the Amazon, Married Priests, Risk of Schism, Alienation from God by Sandro Magister, Settimo Cielo, 11 nov 2019; L'anno di Giovanni Paolo II, il cardinale Ruini ricorda la sua amicizia con il Papa by Angela Ambrogetti, ACI Stampa, Ciità del Vaticano, 20 gennaio, 2020 / 6:00 PM; Praise of Freedom, the Real Kind. Dialogue Between a Cardinal and a Lay Thinker by Sandro Magister, Settimo Cielo, 24 feb 2020; Coronavirus. Two Church Pastors, Two Styles. Their Words Compared by Sandro Magister, Settimo Cielo, 20 mar 2020; Cardenal Ruini: “Criticar al papa Francisco no significa estar en su contra” by Elena Magariños, Vida Nueva Digital, 06/10/2020; In papal sweepstakes, Italy still may be more equal than others by John L. Allen Jr., Crux, Rome, Nov 1, 2020; Dal Vangelo una cultura che dà vita. I 90 anni del cardinale Camillo Ruini by Dobora Donnini, L'Osservatore Romano, 19 febbraio 2021; Sassuolo, il cardinale Ruini celebra messa in San Giorgio per festeggiare i 90 anni, Gazzetta di Modena, 28 Febbraio 2021; Cardinal Ruini sees 'risk of schism' in Germany after Vatican 'no' to same-sex blessings by Hannah Brockhaus, Catholic News Agency, May 4, 2021 / 12:00 pm America/Denver; Per chi suona la campana di don Camillo? by Maria Antonietta Calabrò, HuffPost, 04/05/2021 16:13 CEST | Aggiornato 7 ore fa; Out of their hands: Have the Germans lost control of their synodal way? by Ed. Condon and JD Flynn, The Pillar, May 6, 2021; Le accuse a Ratzinger sono assurde, la Chiesa deve avere il coraggio della veritàa ma non deve essere autolesionista. Parla Ruini by Matteo Matzuzzi, Il Foglio, 27-GEN-2022; È deceduta la sorella del card. Camillo Ruini. Aveva 85 anni, Il Sismografo, mercoledì 23 febbraio 2022; Il cardinale Ruini: «La cultura è a sinistra ma il Paese a destra. Ora Meloni imiti Draghi» by Aldo Cazzullo, Corriere della Sera, 28 settembre 2022 | 10:35.

Birth. January 22, 1924, Bošany, diocese of Nitra, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). Third child of Ján Korec, a tannery worker, and Mária Drábic.

Education. Initial studies at the public school of Bošany and town school of Chyronary, a nearby village. In his youth he was an active Boy Scout. Decided to become a priest and entered the Society of Jesus on September 15, 1939. Jesuit center in Ružomberok (high school); graduated from high school in 1944 in Kláštor pod Znievom; went to Trnava to study philosophy; a year later, he went to Brno to continue his philosophical studies; after two years, he returned to Trnava to study theology; besides studying, he assisted in the publication of books and the religious magazines "Posol" and "Katolícke misie". He and other older Jesuits prepared a miscellany entitled "Veobecná Cirkev - šstúium viery, vedy a umenia" (The Universal Church - Studies in Religion, Science, and the Arts); in the miscellany, two of his works would be published (one of them, "The Philosophical Principles of Dialectic Materialism", was his licentiate thesis in 1947); after the Communist coup in Czechoslovakia in 1948, his works were removed from the miscellany and his thesis had to be published elsewhere. On April 13, 1950, "Barbarian Night", raids against monasteries and religious houses took place and all were closed; he had to interrupt his theological studies when the religious orders were suppressed; he had been exempted from military conscription because of a heart defect and, therefore, he was not forced to join the labor division "PTP" (forced hard labor); instead, he was confined in Jasov; and later in Pezinok; after five months, he was released.

Priesthood. Ordained, in secret, October 1, 1950, Roznava, by Robert Pobozný, titular bishop of Neila, vicar capitular of Roznava. In his civilian life, he worked as a manual laborer in Mototechna in Nitra and conducted his pastoral ministry in secret; he then went to Bratislava, where he ministered in Priemstav and Tatrachema. By 1951, most of the bishops of the country had been jailed and sentenced to long prison terms. In view of this situation, the Holy See decided to consecrate bishops in secret to assure the existence of the Church.

Episcopate. Named bishop (no formal election because he was secretly appointed and consecrated). Consecrated, August 24, 1951, Bratislava, secretly, by Pavol Hnilica, S.J., also a clandestine bishop, without co-consecrators. At 27, he was the youngest bishop in the world. His episcopal motto was Ut omnes unum sint. While performing his episcopal ministry, he worked in a chemical factory; and later, in 1954, he was a laboratory technician at the Institute of Labor Hygiene, where he later became the librarian; an inspectional raid forced him out of that position; the authorities found him "not good enough" to work; finally, he was allowed to work as a night security guard at Prefa; one year later, he was moved to the chemical complex of Dimitrovka. On January 21, 1960, the ŠtB police searched his house; shortly after, he was removed from his job and taken to the police headquarters "Februárka"; and later, arrested. In May 1960, he was convicted of treason and tried with other Jesuits; he was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Freed and rehabilitated on February 28, 1968, during the period of renewal, the Prague Spring, initiated by Alexander Dubček; he returned to Bratislava and assumed a public and religious life trying to restore broken ties; he tried to go to Pezinok to work as a spiritual leader in the Charity house but the authorities did not allow him; he had to accept a job in the Cooperative of the Disabled; later, he worked as a laborer in the Recreational Services of Bratislava, specifically, gardening. Because of pulmonary tuberculosis, diagnosed at the Medical Faculty, he had to leave his job; on July 15, 1968, he began treatment at the hospital of Podunajské Biskupice; and in February 1969, in the High Tatras. While he was in the hospital, the forces of the Warsaw Pact entered Czechoslovakia and put an end to the process of renewal. Nevertheless, on June 24, 1969, Bishop Korec was judicially rehabilitated. When his health improved, he was allowed to go to Rome. On July 9, 1969, he had a private audience with Pope Paul VI; this constituted an unforgettable experience in his life; the pope bestowed on him an episcopal ring and a pectoral cross as well as a crosier and two mitres, which the pontiff had used as archbishop of Milan. Hard times had begun again for his country after the Soviet occupation and especially for him because he was no longer a secret bishop. He was not allowed to perform his episcopal ministry and had to stay at the Children's Hospital in Bratislava, which was staffed by the Sisters of the Most Holy Savior. He was constantly under the vigilance of the ŠtB. On November 5, 1974, the state consented that he needed to assist the sisters spiritually and he had to go again to work at the chemical factory Tatrachema. His rehabilitation was annulled in that same year and he was sent to prison for 4 years to complete his sentence; freed for poor health, he lost the job that he had held before as street sweeper and went back to work at Tatrachema. On July 1, 1979, because of serious health problems, he left the chemical factory and went to work as an elevator serviceman. From May 1980, he was forced to work in a carpenter's workroom and kept under strict supervision. Two years later, in 1982, at 58 years of age, he retired because of his health condition. The ŠtB followed his every move and even broke into his apartment; as he was not a secret bishop, his popularity and following grew considerably, which made the police machinery increase its vigilance; the police wiretapped and tried to defame him but he continued his ministry and writing. On May 18, 1986, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Notre Dame University, Indiana, United States of America. During the Marian Year, 1987-1987, pilgrimages of thousands of faithful took place throughout Slovakia; at Nitra Calvary, 150,000 pilgrims gathered and Bishop Korec was with them until summoned to an interrogation by the ŠtB. On March 25, 1988, during the "Good Friday of Bratislava", a gathering of faithfuls who prayed for religious freedom and human rights, the security forces attacked them, injured and imprisoned them; Bishop Korec was called to an interrogation and thus prevented from taking part in the meeting. On the following September 17, the bishop was prevented from participating in the pilgrimage in Šaštin. On April 27, 1989, Bishop Korec responded in writing to an antirreligious film series presented on national TV, "The Cross in the Toils of Power"; the ŠtB summoned him to an interrogation and tried to break into his apartment. In November 1989, the Communist regime was finally toppled in Czechoslovakia. He was rector of the seminary at the Cyril and Methodius Theological Faculty of Comenius University in Bratislava from January 2 to February 6, 1990. He was nominated bishop of Nitra on February 6, 1990. President of the Regional Episcopal Conference of Slovakia from April 23, 1990 to May 4, 1993.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of June 28, 1991; received the red biretta and the title of Ss. Fabiano e Venanzio a Villa Fiorelli, June 28, 1991. He received a doctorate honoris causa in Human Letters from the Sacred Heart University, Connecticut, United States of America, on February 22, 1992. President François Mitterand of France bestowed on him the badge of the Legion d'Honneur on July 3, 1993. On November 12, 1993, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., United States of America, granted him an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters. On December 6, 1994, Matica Slovenská, Martin, awarded him the "Štefan Moyses Award". On August 31, 1995, President Michal Kováč of the Slovak Republic granted him the badge of L'udovít Štúr. On October 24, 1997, he was awarded the Commemorative Medal of Štefan Moyzes (200th anniversary) by Matica Slovenská, Martin. On December 10, 1997, the Slovak National Center for Human Rights, Bratislava, awarded him the "Saver Medal for the Development and Defense of Human Rights". On March 12, 1998, the University of Constantine the Philosopher, Nitra, awarded him a doctorate honoris causa. In 1998, he was invited to conduct the Lent Spiritual Exercises for the pope and the Roman Curia at the Vatican. The National Literary Center, Bratislava, awarded the cardinal the "Medal of Cyril and Methodius" on September 3, 1998. On October 26, 1998, he received from the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic "The Great Medal of St. Gorazd"; it was presented by the secretary of Education Milan Ftfienik, in Nitra, at the University of Constantine the Philosopher on January 27, 1999, at the seminar "The Life and Works of Jan Chrysostom Korec". Attended the Second Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 1 to 23, 1999. On October 3, 2000, the cardinal received the Literary Weekly Award of 2000 for "Dialogues Under Zobor". Lost the right to participate in the conclave when turned eighty years of age, January 22, 2004. Resigned the pastoral government of the diocese of Nitra on June 9, 2005, in conformity to canon 401 §1 of the Code of Canon Law. Apostolic administrator of Nitra, June 15 to July 16, 2005, when his successor was named. He is the author of more than sixty books with a contemplative message for the contemporary man (1).

Death. October 24, 2015, Nitra. Pope Francis sent a telegram of condolence to Archbishop Stanislav Zvolenský of Bratislava, president of the Episcopal Conference of Slovakia (2). On October 31, 2015, at 11:00 a.m., a Mass for the eternal repose of the soul of the late cardinal was presided by Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, archbishop of Kraków. Burial took place in the crypt of the cathedral-basilica of Saint Emeráma, in Nitra castle, as the late cardinal wished.

Bibliography. Khelemendik, Sergei. Kardinál Ján Chryzostom Korec: Krestanstvo nás robí ludmi : kniha dialóg. Bratislava : Slovanský dom, 2004. (Edmcia Homo sapiens); Korec, Ján Chryzostom. The night of the barbarians : memoirs of the Communist persecution of the Slovak cardinal. Editor Emil Vontorcíčk ; Gaughran, Richard ; Reguli, Ivan. Wauconda, IL : Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, 2002. Uniform Title: Od barbarskej noci. Contributors, forewords: John Paul II, Vaclav Havel, and Theodore Cardinal McCarrick; preface, Peter-Paul Siska ; introduction, Viliam Judak ; epilogue : Peter Liba ; footnotes : Emil Vontorcik and Peter-Paul Siska; translators, Peter-Paul Siska with Richard Gaughran and Jeff Schmitz ; editors, Richard Gaughran, Emil Vontorcik, and Ivan Reguli.

Webgraphy. Photograph, arms and biographical information, in Slovak, Oficiálna Stránka Katolíckej Cirkvi na Slovensku (Official website of the Catholic Church in Slovakia); his photograph, arms and biography, in Slovak, diocese of Nitra; his photograph, arms and biography, in Slovak, Wikipedia; photograph and biography, in English, Wikipedia; photographs and biography, in Italian, Santi e Beati; photograph and biography, in French, Wikipedia; photograph, arms and biography, in Italian, Cathopedia, l'enciclopedia cattolica; photograph and biographical information, in Slovak, Občianske združ enie Osobnosti.sk (Civic Association Osobnosti.sk); < Czech Jesuits During the Communist Oppression. On the Way to Jesus! by Jan Pavlík, S.J., website of Dr. Tomáš Svoboda; his arms, Araldica Vaticana; Postmarks in honor of Cardinal Ján Chryzostom Korec, SJ (1924 - ), from his native town of Bošany, Nitra, in English, Manresa Retreat House; Conservare la viva memoria dei perseguitati e dei martiri di Sua Eminenza il Card. Jan Chryzostom Korec, in Italian, Regina Mundi; Kárdinal Korec stale s nami (Cardinal Korec still with us) by Viliam Judák, Július Paštéka, and Lucia Lendelová, in English, (Bartislava : LÚČ, 2006); Kardinál Korec si pripomenie 60. výročie biskupskej vysviacky (Cardinal Korec to celebrate 60th Anniversary of Episcopal Ordination), in Slovak, actuality.sk; Kardinál Ján Chryzostom Korec a Sociálna náuka Cirkvi (Cardinal Jan Chryzostom Korec and The Social Teaching of the Church) by Štefan Vojtek, in Slovak; A bishop at 27 serving in factories and prisons. Cardinal Korec celebrates his 60th episcopal ordination. by Giampaolo Mattei, L'Osservatore Romano, August 25, 2011; Morto card. Korec, lottò contro regime cecoslovacco, Vatican Insider, pubblicato il 25/10/2015, ultima modifica il 25/10/2015 alle ore 16:11.

(1) These are some of his works:
O pôvode človeka, 1949;
Nad vznikom a vývojom ž ivota, 1971;
O kompetencii vied, 1971;
Záchrana v Kristovi, 1982;
Vo svetle blahozvesti, 1985;
Úvahy o človeku, 1986;
Kristov kňaz, 1987;
O poslanm kňaza, 1987;
Cirkev uprostred problémov, 1987;
Cirkev v rozvoji, 1987.

Birth. June 14, 1932, quartier de la Zéneillère, in Saint-Léonard, diocese of Sion, Switzerland. Son of Camille-Louis Schwery and Marguerite Terroux. His baptismal name is Henri-Camille; his godparents were his sister Camillia and his brother Frédéic; and of his confirmation his brother Joseph. He is the youngest of eleven children. His parents and siblings watched over him and instilled in him a vocation to the priesthood.

Education. From 1939 to 1945, he attended the primary school at Saint-Léonard; then, he attended the Minor Seminary, Sion, where he studied humanities for six years; then, he studied philosophy for two years at the Lyceum-College of Sion; in 1953, he obtained the classical maturity type A, also including Latin and Greek; later, he studied theology at the Major Seminary of Sion; he continued his theological studies for two years at the French Seminary Sainte-Claire and at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome; he completed his mémoir de licence on "La maternité divine d'aprè les théologiens modernes"; in 1957, he was recalled to Switzerland by the bishop of Sion for other studies; he attended the University of Fribourg, where he earned a university diploma in mathematics and theoretical physics.

Priesthood. Ordained, July 7, 1957, in the parish church of Saint-Léonard, by Nestor François Adam, bishop of Sion. Further studies in Fribourg, from July 10, 1957 until 1961, to obtain the habilitation to teach at the Lyceum-College of Sion. From 1958, he was chaplain of the Schola dei Pueri Cantores of Our Lady of Sion and ecclesiastical counselor of the Swiss Committee of Pueri Cantores. Pastoral ministry in the diocese of Sion from 1961 until 1977. Chaplain of the Student Youth of Catholic Action, 1958-1966. Military chaplain, 1958-1977. Faculty member of the College-Institute, Sion, 1961-1972; he taught physics, mathematics, history of science and religion; he was its rector from 1972 until 1977. Director of the minor seminary of Sion from 1968 until 1972. Moderator of the diocesan synod from 1973 to 1976. He was also chaplain of two groups of the Foyers Notre-Dame in Sion. He preached in different parishes and directed spiritual exercises for the young and adults.

Episcopate. Elected bishop of Sion (Sitten), July 22, 1977. Consecrated, September 17, 1977, Sion, by Nestor François Adam, bishop emeritus of Sion, assisted by Pierre Mamie, bishop of Lausanne, Genève et Fribourg, and by Otmar Mäder, bishop of Sankt Gallen. His episcopal motto was Spiritus Domini Gaudium et Spes. Member of the S.C. for Catholic Education from 1978 until 1983. Attended the Second Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, November 24 to December 8, 1985. Honorary canon of the territorial abbey of Saint-Maurice d'Agaunne, September 22, 1989. President of the Conference of Swiss Bishops, 1983-1988.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of June 28, 1991; received the red biretta and the title of Ss. Protomartiri a Via Aurelia Antica, June 28, 1991. Attended the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Europe, Vatican City, November 28 to December 14, 1991. Member of the Council of Cardinals for the Study of the Organizational and Economic Problems of the Holy See, December 2, 1993. Resigned the pastoral government of the diocese for reason of health, April 1, 1995 (1); he was apostolic administrator of the diocese until the installation of his successor, Bishop Norbert Brunner. Special papal envoy to the 9th centennial celebration of the cathedral of Valence, France, August 5, 1995; to the celebration of the 750th anniversary of the Council of Lyon, Lyon, France, October 20 to 22, 1995; to the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the apparition of "Notre Dame de la Salette," Grenoble, France, September 19, 1996. Grand prior of the Swiss Lieutenancy and chevalier de Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. Participated in the conclave of April 18 to 19, 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI. He was member of the Congregations for the Causes of the Saints; for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, for the Clergy; and of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. Lost the right to participate in the conclave when turned eighty years old on June 14, 2012.

Death. January 7, 2021, in the morning, at Home Le Carillon, in St-Léonard, Switzerland. The burial Mass wia celebrated Monday at the Cathedral of Sion, in accordance with current health directives, specified the diocese of Sion. As places are limited, it was not possible for worshipers to attend the ceremony. After learning the news of the death of the cardinal, Pope Francis sent Jean-Marie Lovey, bishop of Sion, a telegram of condolence. The late cardinal was buried in the small cemetery adjacent to the parish of St-Léonard amidst the surrounding vineyards of the valley.

Webgraphy. Photograph and biography, in Italian, Sala Stampa della Santa Sede; photograph and biography, in English, Holy See Press Office; photographs and biography, in Italian, Santi e Beati; his photograph, arms and biography, in Italian, Cathopedia; his photograph and biography, in French, diocese of Sion; biography, in German, Conference of Swiss Bishops; biography, in German, Wikipedia; his photograph and biography by Father Einar Odden, in Norwegian, Den Katolske Kirke; his arms, Araldica Vaticana; Discours du Saint-Père Jean-Paul II au Cardinal Henri Schwery et aux pèlerins du diocèse Swisse de Sion, Jeudi, 7 novembre 1991, The Vatican; Le Cardinal Henri Schwery, prêtre, évêque, cardinal. Un quart desiècle d'épiscopat, edited by Theodor Wyder, Saint-Maurice : Éditions Saint-Augustin, 2002; Décès du cardinal valaisan Henri Schwery, [24] heures, jeudi 7 janvier 2021 15h18.

(1) On January 18, 1995, he sent a letter to the faithful announcing his resignation. This is a fragment of the letter, taken from Le Cardinal Henri Schwery, prêtre, évêque, cardinal. Un quart desiècle dépiscopat:
Chers diocésains, frères et soeurs,
Après longue et mure réflexion, ayant sollicité conseils et remarques, et m'étant confié à Dieu dans la prière, j'ai jugé bon de prier le Saint Père d'accepter ma demission comme éveque de Sion afin qu'il puisse confier notre diocese à un Pasteur dynamique et avisé. Le Saint Père a accepté ma démission. Elle entrera en viguer avec la prise de possession du diocese par mon successeur.
Parmi les raisons de cette décision, il convient de mentionner la fatigue, ainsi qu'une détérioration progressive de ma santé. Par ailleurs, au cours de ma 18ème année d'épiscopat, je mesure d'autant mieux l'opportunité d'un renuovellement à fréquence raisonnable des Pasteurs diocésains. La rapidité de l'évolution sociale et la nécessaire adaptation de la Pastorale semblent exiger tuojours davantage que les Eglises diocésaines prennent des élans renouvelés, sous des impulsions nouvelles inspirées par de nouveaux éveques.

Birth. February 9, 1936, Warlack, district of Heilsberg, East Prussia, then diocese of Ermland, Germany (now Worławki, Powiat Olsztyński, Poland). His family was forced to move to Erfurt, Thuringia, Germany, in 1946, after the Second World War. His father was a brick maker; his mother died when he was eleven years old. He had five siblings. Later, the family lived in Bad Berka.

Education. Primary education in Jommendorf, East Prussia, after the escape to Thuringia; secondary education in Rönnebeck (Mark), Hauteroda and Erfurt. From 1954 to 1960, he studied at the Regional Seminary of Erfurt; later, he attended the Seminary of Neuzelle. Received the ecclesiastical tonsure, February 8, 1959, in the collegiate church of Sankt Marien in Neuzelle, from Ferdinand Piontek, vicarius capitularis of the archdiocese of Breslau; the subdiaconate, November 8, 1959; and the diaconate November 15, 1959, also from Ferdinand Piontek, then titular bishop of Barca.

Priesthood. Ordained, June 29, 1960, cathedral Sankt Marien, Erfurt, by Josef Freusberg, titular bishop of Adrianopoli di Epiro, auxiliary of Fulda. Incardinated in the diocese of Fulda, Germany. From 1960 to1962, he was chaplain of. Sankt Elisabeth in Eisenach; from 1962 to 1964, prefect and assistant at the Regional Seminary of Erfurt; from 1964 to 1966, together with Joachim Meisner, later cardinal and his predecessor in the see of Berlin and archbishop of Cologne, chaplain of Sankt Marien in Heiligenstadt; and from 1966 to 1981, parish priest at St. John Baptist in Jena. From 1981 to 1989, he was vicar general of the Bischöfliches Amt of Erfurt-Meiningen. Director of the diocesan ecumenical commission; diocesan director and counselor of St. Benno of Lipsia publishing house. On March 8, 1982, he was named prelate of honor of His Holiness.

Episcopate. Elected bishop of Berlin by its cathedral chapter, May 28, 1989. Election confirmed by Pope John Paul II, June 24, 1989. Consecrated, September 9, 1989, in the cathedral of Sankt Hedwig, Berlin, by Joachim Wanke, titular bishop of Castello di Mauritania, apostolic adminsitrator of the Bischöfliches Amt of Erfurt-Meiningen, assisted by Johannes Kapp, titular bishop of Melzi, auxiliary of Fulda, and by Wolfgang Weider, titular bishop of Uzita, auxiliary of Berlin. His episcopal motto was Deus semper maior. Took possession of the see on the same day and celebrated his first pontifical mass in West-Berlin on September 10, 1989, in Sankt Matthias (Berlin-Schöneberg). In this time, the diocese of Berlin was separated in an east part (German Democratic Republic) and a west part (Germany). President of the Episcopal Conference of Berlin (German Democratic Republic) from November 7, 1989 until its suppression on November 24, 1990. From 1990, he was member of the Episcopal Conference of Germany; chairman of the commission for the East Germany Region (1990-1996); member of the ecumenical commission (1990-1996); chairman of the commission of marriage and family (1991-2011); vice-chairman of the commission for immigration (1996-2011); and vice-chairman of the pastoral commission (1999-2011).

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of June 28, 1991; received the red biretta and the title of S. Giuseppe all'Aurelio, June 28, 1991. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Berlin, June 27, 1994, when that ecclesiastical province was established. Received the pallium from Pope John Paul II on June 29, 1995, at the patriarchal Vatican basilica. Member of the Congregation for Catholic Education (1991-2011); member of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (1995-2011); and member of the Pontifical Council for Dialog with Non-Believers (1991-1994). In 2000, he was decorated with the Great Cross of Merit, with Star and Sash of Merit, of the Federal Republic of Germany. Participated in the conclave of April 18 to 19, 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI. Resigned from the pastoral government of the archdiocese of Berlin in conformity to canon 401 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law on February 24, 2011.

Death. June 30, 2011, early in the morning, in Sankt Hedwig-Krankenhaus, Berlin-Mitte, after a long and painful illness. Upon learning the news of the death of the cardinal, Pope Benedict XVI sent Matthias Heinrich, auxiliary bishop and diocesan administrator of Berlin, a telegram of condolence (1). Exposed from July 6 to 9, 2011, in a chapel of the metropolitan cathedral of Sankt Hedwig, Berlin. The requiem mass for Cardinal Sterzinsky, 8th (arch)-bishop of Berlin took place on Saturday, July 9, 2011, at 3:00 p.m., in that cathedral. The burial rite was headed by Bishop Weider, auxiliary emeritus of Berlin. Following the funeral, he was buried in the crypt of the cathedral, where his predecessors Bishop Christian Schreiber, Bishop Nikolaus Bares, Cardinal Konrad von Preysing, Bishop Wilhelm Weskamm and Cardinal Alfred Bengsch are also buried.

Bibliography. Pilvousek, Josef. "Sterzinsky, Georg Maximilian."Die Bischöfe der deutschsprachigen Länder, 1945 2001 : ein biographisches Lexikon. Unter Mitwirkung von Franz Xaver Bischof ... [et al.] ; herausgegeben von Erwin Gatz. Berlin : Duncker & Humblot, 2002, p. 97-98.

Webgraphy. Photograph and biographical data, in German, archdiocese of Berlin, at the bottom of the page; his arms, Araldica Vaticana; photographs of the funeral and burial, archdiocese of Berlin; Il Cardinale Sterzinsky, il Vescovo della riunificazione di Berlino by Marco Mancini, ACI Stampa, Berlino, 30 giugno, 2021 / 2:00 PM.

(1) This is the text of the telegram, taken from the Press Office of the Holy See:

Birth. January 13, 1911, Banja Luka, now Bosnia-Erzegovina, then Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was the youngest of the the six children of Count Gian Vito Del Mestri and Baroness Marianna de Grazia. He had title of count.

Education. Initial studies in Banja Luka; then from 1929, he attended the Jesuit Lyceum, Kalksburg, Vienna, where he studied classics, 1929; later 1930 to 1937,. he resided at Almo Collegio Capranica, Rome, while studying at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, where he earned doctorates in philosophy in 1932; in theology in 1937; and in canon law in 1940; finally, he studied diplomacy at the Pontifical Academy of Ecclesiastical Nobles, Rome, 1937-1940.

Priesthood. Ordained, April 11, 1936, patriarchal Lateran basilica, Rome, by Cardinal Francesco Marchetti-Selvaggiani, vicar of Rome. Incardinated in diocese of Gorizia, Italy. Pastoral ministry and faculty member in the minor seminary, diocese of Gorizia, 1937-1938. Further studies, 1938-1940. Attaché of the nunciature in Yugoslavia, 1940-1941. Secretary of the apostolic delegation in Lebanon, 1941-1943. Privy chamberlain of His Holiness, October 21, 1941. Secretary, and later auditor, of the nunciature in Romania, 1943-1950; expelled by the Communist regime, July 1950. In the Secretariat of State, Vatican City, 1950-1951. Domestic prelate of His Holiness, October 6, 1951. As chargé d'affaires, he was charged with the opening the nunciature in Syria, 1951-1953. Chargé d'affaires, nunciature in Indonesia, 1953. Counselor in the nunciature in Germany, 1953-1959. Apostolic delegate in British Eastern and Western Africa, with residence in Nairobi, October 3, 1959. On September 23, 1960, the delegation was divided into Central-Western, Western, and Eastern. He continued as apostolic delegate in Eastern Africa, with residence in Lagos.

Episcopate. Elected titular archbishop of Tuscamia, October 28, 1961. Consecrated, December 31, 1961, cathedral of the Holy Family, Nairobi, by Cardinal Laurean Rugambwa, bishop of Bukoba, assisted by Cornelius Chitsulo, bishop of Dedza, and by Ireneus Dud, titular bishop of Barcuso, apostolic vicar of Bahr-el-Ghazal. Attended the Second Vatican Council, 1962-1965. Received the title of pro-nuncio, November 1965. Apostolic delegate in México, September 9, 1967. Pro-nuncio in Canada, June 20, 1970. Nuncio in Germany, August 12, 1975 until August 3, 1984.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of June 28, 1991; received the red biretta and the deaconry of S. Eustachio, June 28, 1991. Promoted to the cardinalate when he was over 80 years old, and thus, he did not have the right to participate in the conclave. Chaplain, Theresienklinik Hospital, Nürenberg, Germany.

Death. August 2, 1993, Theresienklinik Hospital, Nürnberg, Germany. Buried beside the family chiesetta of Sant'Antonio, Medea, Gorizia, Italy. A plaque in his memory was placed above the vault where he is buried (1).

(1) This is the text of the inscription, kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta:

Bibliography. Bergh, Hendrik van. Botschafter des Papstes : 400 Jahre Nuntius in Deutschland, dem Apostolischen Nuntius, Erzbischof Guido Del Mestri, zu seinem Abschied von Deutschland. Berg, Starnberger See 3 : Türmer Verlag, 1984, pp. 282-298; LeBlanc, Jean. Dictionnaire biographique des évêques catholiques du Canada. Les diocèses catholiques canadiens des Églises latine et orientales et leurs évêques; repères chronologiques et biographiques, 1658-2002. Ottawa : Wilson & Lafleur, 2002. (Gratianus. Série instruments de recherche), pp. 268-269.

Webgraphy. Photographs and biograby by Eman Bonnici, in English, Find a Grave; biography by Gerhard Heger, in German, Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon; photographs, arms and biography, in German, Wikipedia; photograph, arms, tomb and biographical data, in English, Wikipedia; his arms, Araldica Vaticana.

Birth. December 13, 1901, Parma, Italy.

Education. Joined the Society of Jesus, December 2, 1918. Jesuit houses of study in Italy, Spain, and Germany.

Priesthood. Ordained, March 25, 1928. Faculty member, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, 1929-1932; moved to Davosplatz because of poor health. Took final vows, February 2, 1935. Provincial of the Veneto-Milan province, 1935-1939. Rector and faculty member of the Pontifical Philosophical Faculty, Galarate, Italy, September 24, 1939. Faculty member and rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, August 5, 1941. Faculty member, St. Robert Bellarmino College, Rome, 1951-1965. General delegate for the Jesuit International Houses, 1951-1962. Secretary general of the International Federation of Catholic Universities; faculty member, Pontifical Lateran Athenaeum. General assistant of the Society of Jesus, 1965. Regional assistant for Italy. Confessor to Popes Paul VI and John Paul I from 1966 until 1978. Admonitor to the Superior General, 1973. President of the Commission of Superior Studies of the Society of Jesus, 1974. Appointed by the pope pontifical delegate to the Society of Jesus, October 5, 1981; occupied the post until September 13, 1983.

Episcopate. Requested to be dispensed from the requirement of episcopal ordination because of advanced age and the dispensation was granted by Pope John Paul II.

Cardinalate. Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of June 28, 1991; received the red biretta and the deaconry of S. Ignazio di Loyola a Campo Marzio, June 28, 1991. Promoted to the cardinalate when he was over 80 years old, and thus, he did not have the right to participate in the conclave.

Death. Friday December 17, 1999, in Rome. The requiem mass was celebrated on Monday December 20, by Pope John Paul II at the patriarchal Vatican basilica. Buried, temporarily, in the mausoleum of the Society of Jesus in Campo Verano cemetery, Rome (1). The remains were transferred to the church of S. Ignazio di Loyola a Campo Marzio, Rome, on Sunday December 17, 2006, and buried in a marble sarcophagus (2). He is buried near the tomb of Cardinal S. Roberto Bellarmino, S.J.

Webgraphy. Biography, in English, Wikipedia; biography, in Italian, Wikipedia; photographs and biography by Eman Bonnici, in English, Find a Grave; his photograph and arms, Araldica Vaticana; Cardinal Paolo Dezza, 98; Guided the Jesuits by Alessandra Stanley, The New York Times, December 22, 1999; Esequie del Cardinale Paolo Dezza. Omelia di Giovanni Paolo II, Basilica Vaticana - Lunedì, 20 dicembre 1999; Il Card. Paolo Dezza, Uomo Fedele by N. Venturini, Eco dei Gesuiti, Popoli On Line; 20 anni fa la morte del Cardinale Dezza, un "autentico gesuita" by Marco Mancini, ACI Stampa, Città del Vaticano, 17 dicembre, 2019 / 2:00 PM.

(1) This was the inscription on his tomb, kindly provided by Mr. Eman Bonnici, from Malta:

Birth. December 12, 1921, Fiumefreddo di Sicilia, Italy.

Education. In 1948 he obtained a degree in philosophy. In 1953 he obtained a degree in theology and he completed his studies in Rome, at the Pontifical Gregorian University, residing at the Almo Collegio Capranica, of whose episcopal commission he was a member.

Priesthood. Ordained, November 5, 1944, for the diocese of Acireale. From 1948 until 1968 he was a professor of history and philosophy at the Episcopal Seminary of Acireale. From 1950 to 1952 he was assistant of the FUCI in Giarre. From 1954 to 1964 he was assistant of the FUCI in Acireale. In 1959 he was appointed canon of the cathedral of Acireale; in 1962, director of the diocesan catechetical office; and, in 1964, he assumed the office of vicar general of the diocese of Acireale.

Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Octava and appointed auxiliary bishop of Acireale, October 31, 1970, Consecrated, December 13, 1970, by Cardinal Francesco Carpino, assisted by Angelo Calabretta, titular bishop of Vergi, and by Salvatore Nicolosi, bishop of Noto. He was named coadjutor archbishop of Messina, February 21, 1976; and prelate of Santa Lucia del Mela, December 21, 1976. He succeeded as archbishop of Messina on June 3, 1977. He was the 108th archbishop of Messina. He was named bishop of Lipari, December 10, 1977. He was named to the newly created archdiocese of Messina-Lipari-Santa Lucia del Mela on September 30, 1986. Archimandrite of the SS. Salvatore in Messina. He retired on May 17, 1997.

Cardinalate. According to a story published in l'Eco del Sud, it is claimed that Pope John Paul II intended to make Ignazio Cannavò, archbishop of Messina-Lipari-Santa Lucia del Mela a cardinal. When the pope told the archbishop of his intention, on October 7, 1990, to create him a cardinal in the next consistory, the archbishop refused.

Death. October 18, 2015, Aci Sant'Antonio, Italy. The funeral was held on October 20 in the cathedral of Acireale and the following day in the cathedral basilica of Messina. Buried, chapel of the Most Blessed Sacrament, cathedral basilica of Messina.

Webgeraphy. Photograph and biography, in Italian, Wikipedia; Nel 1990 Mons. Cannavò rifiutò la nomina a cardinale, L'Eco del Sud, 26 Dicembre 2021.

©1998-2023 Salvador Miranda.