Retired Cardinals Furno, Terrazas, RIP

December 10, 2015

Two retired cardinals—the Italian Cardinal Carlo Furno and the Bolivian Cardinal Julio Terrazas Sandoval—died on December 9.

Cardinal Furno, who had served for years in the Vatican diplomatic corps, had been apostolic nuncio in Peru, Lebanon, Brazil, and finally in Italy. He was appointed in 1995 as grand master of the Knight of the Holy Sepulcher, serving in that role until his retirement in 2007. He was also archpriest of the Roman basilica of St. Mary Major from 1997 to 2004. He was 94 at the time of his death.

Cardinal Furno never participated in a papal conclave. He was raised to the College of Cardinals by St. John Paul II in 1994, and by 2003, when the Polish Pontiff died, he had passed the age of 80 and was ineligible to vote in a papal election.

Cardinal Terrazas entered the Redemptorist order in 1957, was ordained in 1962, and became an auxiliary bishop of La Paz in 1978. He was named Bishop of Oruro, Bolivia, in 1982, and Archbishop of Santa Cruz in 1991. He received his red hat from St. John Paul II in 2001. He retired from active ministry in 2013, and died after a lengthy illness at the age of 79.

Pope Francis paid tribute to the two deceased cardinals. He recognized Cardinal Furno for his long service to the Vatican, and invoked the intercession of Mary Salus Populi Romani-- whose famous image is the St. Mary Major basilica—in praying for the repose of his soul. In a message to Archbishop Sergio Alfredo Gualberti Calandrina of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, the Pope remarked that Cardinal Terrazas “stayed faithful to the ministry he received, and with generosity and courage devoted his life to the service of the Gospel, justice, and peace.”

The deaths of the two prelates leave 217 living members of the College of Cardinals. Of these, 117 are eligible to vote in a papal conclave.

 

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Further information:

• Bolivian Cardinal Julio Terrazas passes away at 79 (Rome Reports)
• Mort du cardinal italien Carlo Furno, 94 ans (La Croix)
• The Pope expresses his condolences for the death of Cardinals Furno and Terrazas Sandoval (VIS)