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Catholic World News News Feature

Cardinal Pompedda, outspoken canonist, dead at 77 October 18, 2006

Cardinal Mario Francesco Pompedda, the former prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, died in Rome early on October 18, at the age of 77.

Cardinal Pompedda had been hospitalized earlier this month. The cause of his death was not immediately disclosed.

Cardinal Pompedda, for years an influential figure in the Roman Curia, retired in May 2004, shortly after reaching his 75th birthday. He had remained highly visible because of his willingness to speak with the press, particularly on issues involving the interpretation of canon law.

Entering into service of the Holy See in 1955, as a judge of the Roman Rota, Cardinal Pompedda became the dean of that tribunal in 1993. A noted canonist, he also taught at the Gregorian University. He is generally credited with drafting Universi Dominic Gregis, the apostolic constitution which Pope John Paul II issued in 1996, regarding the government of the Holy See during a papal interregnum and the procedures for a conclave. In 1999 he was named by Pope John Paul as prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, and in April 2001 he was raised to the College of Cardinals.

The Italian prelate was a lightning-rod for controversy on several occasions: in October 2000, when he stated his opposition to a French policy barring Muslim women from wearing heard-scarves in public institutions; in February 2005 when, with Pope John Paul II gravely ill, he suggested a greater governing role of the Roman Curia; in September 2005 when he insisted that traditionalist Catholics must accept papal authority before any move could be made to restore the Latin Mass; later the same month when he said that he did not oppose domestic-partner legislation in Italy; and in October 2005 when he said that a Catholic voter could justify casting a ballot for a pro-abortion politician.

Because Cardinal Pompedda was so frequently available to the press, particularly after his retirement, some Vatican-watchers suspected that he was the source of the notorious "secret diary" from the April 2005 conclave that was made public by Italian journalist Lucio Brunelli; there has never been any confirmation of those suspicions. With the death of Cardinal Pompedda the College of Cardinals now has 187 members, of whom 116 are under the age of 80 and thus eligible to vote in a papal election.