Pope Benedict XVI has sent a telegram of condolence to the family of Cardinal Antonio Innocenti, Prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Clergy, President Emeritus of “Ecclesia Dei”.Cardinal Innocenti died Saturday in Rome at the age of 93.
In his telegram addressed to the Cardinal’s sister, Pope Benedict expresses his spiritual solidarity to all those who morn the loss of the Cardinal, whom he described as a stalwart collaborator in the life and mission of the Holy See.
Widely respected, Pope Benedict notes that his pastoral life saw him appointed Apostolic Nuncio to diverse countries, as well as Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy and the Ecclesia Dei Commission.
The Holy Father concludes the telegram with words of praise for Cardinal Innocenti’s fervent priestly zeal and total faithfulness to the Gospel.
Ordained in 1938 in Florence, Cardinal Innocenti worked as a pastor in northern Italy for the following decade. During the Second World War he worked to prevent the deportation of dozens of people to the Nazi death camps, which led to him narrowly escaping death from a firing squad; he was released at the last minute.
Following the war he was called by Pope Pius XII to Rome. He went on to become papal nuncio to Switzerland, Paraguay and Spain.
In 1985, Pope John Paul II rewarded the experienced prelate with elevation to cardinal and one year later appointed him prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy.
His funeral will be held in St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday Spetember 10th and presided over by Dean of the College of Cardinals, Angelo Sodano.
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(Source: RV)