BY Daniel Harkins | March 13 | 
0 COMMENTS 
print
Pope mourns death of retired Patriarch of Lisbon
The Holy Father pays his respects to Cardinal Jose da Cruz Policarpo, who took part in the 2013 conclave, following his death after a retreat to Fatima
Pope Francis has sent his condolences following the death of a Portuguese cardinal at the age of 78.
Cardinal Jose da Cruz Policarpo, the retired Archbishop of Lisbon, died after suffering chest pains while on retreat in Fatima. In a telegram, Pope Francis said the cardinal was ‘solicitous in putting the gifts received from the Lord at the service of the people of God and of his brother bishops.’
Cardinal Policarpo was born on February 26, 1936 in Alvorninha, Portugal. Ordained to the priesthood in 1961, he was sent to Rome for further studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University and went on to spend much of his career in education and teaching. He was appointed archbishop on March 24, 1998, succeeding Cardinal António Ribeiro as Patriarch. He was made a cardinal in 2001 and participated in the 2005 conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI as well as in the 2013 conclave that elected the current Pope.
The Holy Father concluded his telegram with the Apostolic Blessing for all those mourning the death of the Patriarch emeritus.
RSS Feeds