Cardinal Marchisano dead at 85

July 28, 2014

Cardinal Francesco Marchisano died on July 27 at the age of 85.

In a telegram of condolence, Pope Francis described him as “generous in his vocation as a priest and bishop, solicitous of the needs of the faithful, and sensitive to the world of art and culture.”

Born in 1929 and ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Turin in 1952, the prelate was ordained a bishop by Pope St. John Paul II in 1989, raised to the dignity of archbishop in 1994, and created a cardinal in the conclave of 2003.

The prelate served as secretary of the Pontifical Commission of Preserving the Church’s Patrimony of Art and History (1988-93), president of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archeology (1991-2004), president of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church (1993-2003), archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica (2002-06), president of the Fabric of St. Peter (2002-04), and president of the Labor Office of the Apostolic See (2005-09).

With Cardinal Marchisano’s death, there are now 212 members of the College of Cardinals, of whom 118 are eligible to take part in the election of a pope.

 

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Further information:

• Death of Cardinal Marchisano, former archpriest of St Peter's Basilica (Vatican Radio)
• Telegramma di cordoglio del Santo Padre per la scomparsa del Cardinale Francesco Marchisano (Holy See Press Office)