Cardinal Tucci dies at 93

April 15, 2015

Cardinal Roberto Tucci passed away on April 14, five days shy of his 94th birthday.

Born in Naples in 1921, he entered the Society of Jesus at 15 and was ordained to the priesthood at 29. He took part in the drafting of some of the documents of the Second Vatican Council and served as director of La Civiltà Cattolica from 1959 to 1973. He then served as director of Vatican Radio until 1985 and helped organize Pope St. John Paul II’s apostolic journeys around the world. St. John Paul created Father Tucci a cardinal in the consistory of 2001.

In a message of condolence to Father Adolfo Nicolas, the superior general of the Jesuit order, Pope Francis said of the deceased cardinal: “He leaves us with the memory of an industrious and dynamic life, spent in the coherent and generous fulfillment of his vocation as a religious man mindful of the needs of others, and a pastor faithful to the Gospel and to the Church, following the example of St. Ignatius.”

 

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Further information:

• Cardinal Roberto Tucci dies (Vatican Radio)
• Pope's telegram for the death of Cardinal Roberto Tucci, S.J. (VIS)
• Cardinal's diary yields memories of talks with Blessed John XXIII (CWN, 10/23/12)
• Cardinal Tucci honored by France for work on papal trips (CWN, 9/11/09)