Retired Italian Cardinal Virgilio Noe, a liturgist and former archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, died July 24 at the age of 89.
In a telegram to the cardinal's sister, Pope Benedict XVI highlighted
Cardinal Noe's "many years as a diligent collaborator at the Holy See,
particularly in the office of liturgical celebrations and as archpriest
of the papal Basilica of St. Peter's, everywhere giving witness to a
fervid priestly zeal and fidelity to the Gospel."
The Italian had spent more than 45 years in liturgical work, beginning a
decade before the Second Vatican Council reformed the Mass.
He had served as secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and
the Sacraments and was the master of liturgical ceremonies to Popes Paul
VI and Blessed John Paul II.
Three days after Pope John Paul formally inducted him into the College
of Cardinals in 1991, he named him the archpriest of St. Peter's
Basilica, papal vicar for Vatican City State and placed him in charge of
the Fabbrica di San Pietro, the office responsible for the basilica's
upkeep.
Two years before taking the reins as the master of ceremonies for papal
liturgies in 1970, he was named to a commission charged with updating
papal Masses in line with the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican
Council.
For much of his time as pontifical master of ceremonies, he also doubled
as undersecretary of the divine worship congregation.
In 1982, Pope
John Paul named him an archbishop and congregation secretary, a post he
held until 1989.
The late cardinal was born March 30, 1922, in northern Italy, he was
ordained a priest for the Diocese of Pavia in 1944 and taught church
history and liturgy in diocesan seminaries.
In 1964, he was named
secretary of the Italian bishops' Liturgical Action Center and began
organizing national liturgical weeks.
Five years later, he was named
undersecretary of the divine worship congregation.
Cardinal Noe's death leaves the College of Cardinals with 195 members,
of whom 114 are under the age of 80 and, therefore, eligible to vote in a
conclave.