Vatican: death at 94 of Italian cardinal Angelo Sodano
Pope Francis with Cardinal Angelo Sodano, February 13, 2015 at the Vatican.
AFP Photos/Andreas Solaro
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
It is a figure of the Roman Curia who died, the Italian cardinal Angelo Sodano died on the night of Friday May 27 to Saturday May 28 in Rome at the age of 94 from the consequences of Covid-19.
This great diplomat was, for years, the right arm of Pope John Paul II.
His image is also associated with the many sex scandals that have erupted in recent years in the Catholic Church.
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With our correspondent at the Vatican,
Éric Senanque
Never has the expression "prince of the Church", by which cardinals are sometimes called, doubtless stuck so well to the figure of Angelo Sodano.
For years, the Italian cardinal remained one of the most powerful men in the Curia.
Born into a rural family in Piedmont in 1927, ordained a priest at the age of 22, he trained in philosophy and theology at the pontifical universities in Rome before being called to the service of the Holy See in 1959.
Diplomat
Angelo Sodano became a diplomat, occupying positions in Ecuador, Uruguay and especially in Chile where he was nuncio for almost twelve years under the dictatorship of General Pinochet.
There, some will reproach him for having spared the military dictatorship too much.
The pontificate of Jean-Paul II is a consecration, he names him secretary of state of the Holy See and creates him cardinal.
As the health of the Polish pope declines, Sodano's power will grow stronger.
Scandals
The sexual abuse scandals cast a dark light on the prelate, it is he who, for example, will defend Macial Maciel, the pedophile founder of the Legionaries of Christ, against Cardinal Ratzinger, future Pope Benedict XVI.
As nuncio in Chile, he was also the one who appointed many bishops accused of having covered up sexual crimes.
In a telegram of condolences, Pope Francis hailed an "
ecclesially disciplined man
" and a "
kind pastor animated by the desire to spread everywhere the leaven of the Gospel
".
Words that contrast with the sulphurous character that was the Italian cardinal.
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To read also:
Pope Francis wants to strengthen the fight against pedocrime in the Church
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