Pope Francis remembers 123 cardinals and bishops who have died

Vatican City - The Pope traditionally commemorates the cardinals and bishops who died last year at the beginning of November, the month of the dead. At this year's mass, churchmen from German-speaking countries were also remembered.

Published on 04.11.2024 at 11:50 –

Pope Francis commemorated the cardinals and bishops who died last year with a mass in St Peter's Basilica. "They were shepherds and role models for the Lord's flock", the head of the Church paid tribute to them on Monday. "They loved the Church - each in their own way: Let us pray that they may enjoy the communion of saints for eternity. We await with firm hope that we will be able to rejoice with them in paradise."

According to the Vatican, seven cardinals worldwide have died in the past twelve months, including the German Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes at the age of 89. Born in Sauerland, he headed the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum", which is responsible for charitable issues, for many years.

The 116 deceased (arch)bishops were also remembered at the memorial mass in the Vatican. Among them from the German-speaking world were the Archbishop Emeritus of Salzburg, Alois Kothgasser, and the former Bishop of Chur, Vitus Huonder, as well as the former Auxiliary Bishops Wolfgang Weider from Berlin, Klaus Dick from Cologne, Franz Josef Dietl from Munich and Freising, Karl Reger from Aachen, Franziskus Eisenbach from Mainz and Helmut Bauer from Würzburg. Former Limburg Bishop Franz Kamphaus, who died last week, is not yet on the list published by the Vatican - presumably for organisational reasons. (KNA)