Spanish cardinal, known for pastoral charity, dies at 89

Published: 2006-07-14

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Retired Spanish Cardinal Angel Suquia Goicoechea of Madrid died July 13 at the age of 89. In a telegram to Cardinal Antonio Rouco Varela of Madrid, Pope Benedict XVI praised the late cardinal "who served his people with so much pastoral charity" and zeal. The pope wrote that Cardinal Suquia's "generous and intense" pastoral ministry showed his great dedication to the Gospel and his "deep love for the church." The telegram was released by the Vatican July 14. Born in 1916 in the Basque region in the San Sebastian Diocese, he became archbishop of Madrid in 1983. He was named a cardinal in 1985 and elected president of the Spanish bishops' conference in 1987. Under his leadership, the conference stepped up its criticism of socialist government policies on abortion, sex education in public schools and the church's role in public life.

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