Holy Father recalls late cardinal's priestly zeal, ability to grow the Church

Vatican City, May 4, 2010 / 13:05 pm

Today the Holy Father sent his condolences for the death of Cardinal Luigi Poggi, former apostolic nuncio, and recent archivist and librarian emeritus of Holy Roman Church. The cardinal died in Rome on Tuesday morning at the age of 92.

In the telegram, addressed to the late cardinal's brother and sister, the Holy Father recalled the prelate's “many years of solicitous collaboration with the Holy See, especially as nuncio in various countries, then as archivist and librarian of Holy Roman Church.”

The Pope noted that Cardinal Poggi always gave “a much-appreciated example of fervent priestly zeal and faithfulness to the Gospel."

Cardinal Luigi Poggi was born in Piacenza, Italy in 1917. He studied at Alberoni College, located in his hometown, and was ordained a priest in 1940.

After several more years of study, he was appointed an archbishop and worked to strengthen Vatican ties and build the Catholic Church around the world in places such as Central Africa, Peru, Poland, Hungary,  Czechoslovakia, Romania and Bulgaria.

In 1992, he began working as archivist and librarian of the Holy Roman Church, a position he held until he retired. 

John Paul II proclaimed him a cardinal in 1994.

Cardinal Poggi's funeral will be held Friday, May 7 at 5:30 p.m.  Pope Benedict will address the congregation following the Mass.