Belgian cardinal, former classmate of pope, dies at 81

Published: 2004-11-02

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Remembering their years as students together in Rome, Pope John Paul II offered his condolences on the death of Belgian Cardinal Gustaaf Joos, who died Nov. 2 at the age of 81 at the parish where he had served since 1970. The Belgian bishops' conference announced Cardinal Joos' funeral would be celebrated Nov. 12 in the cathedral of Ghent. The conference did not give a cause of death. Pope John Paul inducted the virtually unknown priest into the College of Cardinals in October 2003, when he was already more than 80 years old and, therefore, ineligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope. Cardinal Joos' death leaves the college with 186 members, 122 of whom are under age 80.

Copyright (c) 2004 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 The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in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 .