Cardinal Rossi, former Vatican diplomat, dies at 93

Published: 2004-02-09

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II was scheduled to preside at the Feb. 13 funeral of Cardinal Opilio Rossi, a longtime Vatican diplomat and curial official who died at the age of 93. The cardinal, who was born in the United States to Italian parents and moved to Italy at the age of 6, died in Rome Feb. 9. In a telegram of condolence to members of the cardinal's family, Pope John Paul praised him for "many years of faithful collaboration with the Holy See, particularly as an apostolic nuncio and as president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity." Cardinal Rossi's death leaves the College of Cardinals with 192 members, 129 of whom are under 80 and, therefore, eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope. The Vatican said the pope would preside over the funeral rites for Cardinal Rossi in St. Peter's Basilica and deliver a homily, while Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals, would be principal celebrant of the Mass.

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