The Roman Catholic Church's oldest living cardinal Paul Augustin Mayer on Friday died in Rome at the age of 98, said a report by the I-Media news agency. Pope Benedict XVI paid tribute to the German cardinal's commitment in a telegram, said the report by the agency which specialises in Vatican affairs.
The pope will preside over the final stages of the funeral which will take place on Monday in Saint Peter's Basilica.
Following his death, Italian Ersilio Tonini, 95, will take cardinal Mayer's place as the Roman Catholic Church's oldest living cardinal.