Ethiopian Cardinal Tzadua dies in Rome at age 82

Published: 2003-12-12

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Ethiopian Cardinal Paulos Tzadua, who headed the Archdiocese of Addis Ababa for more than 20 years, died in Rome Dec. 11 at age 82. In a telegram of condolences to the Catholic community in Ethiopia, Pope John Paul II said the late cardinal was a generous and energetic pastor during an ecclesiastical career that spanned nearly six decades. As archbishop of Addis Ababa, Cardinal Tzadua was known for his efforts to stimulate vocations. He accepted the cooperation of Jesuits and Comboni missionaries in the local seminaries. He sought greater involvement of lay Catholics in the life of the church, establishing a diocese-wide lay council in 1980. During years of cyclical drought in Ethiopia, he helped mobilize the church's relief efforts, which reached across religious lines to aid many non-Catholics. In the wider Ethiopian society, his goal was to carve out a space for quiet witness for Catholics, who represent less than 1 percent of the country's population.

Copyright (c) 2003 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .