Japanese cardinal, retired president of migrants' council, dies at 77

Published: 2007-11-09

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Japanese Cardinal Stephen Fumio Hamao, retired president of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers, died Nov. 8 in Tokyo at the age of 77. In a telegram of condolence to the Diocese of Yokohama, where he had served as bishop for almost 20 years, Pope Benedict XVI praised the cardinal for his "devoted witness to the Gospel, his lively concern for the poor and his generous service to the universal church." Vatican Radio reported Nov. 9 that the funeral Mass for the cardinal, who had been battling cancer, would take place Nov. 12 in Yokohama. Cardinal Hamao retired from his Vatican post in 2006, a year after submitting his resignation as required on his 75th birthday. But he said he was saddened by the fact that when he left the council that defends the rights and promotes the pastoral care of migrants and others was placed under the leadership of the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. The cardinal told reporters he had read about the changes in the newspaper and that the Vatican had not consulted him.

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