Pope mourns passing of Cardinal Cordes

Vatican News

Pope Francis has mourned the passing of Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes, who passed away yesterday in Rome at the age of 89.

In a telegram sent to his family, the Pope affectionately remembers the German Cardinal, "who served the Lord and the Church with fidelity and generosity, attentive to the needs of the youth and the needs of fragile individuals.”

The Pope remembers with gratitude Cardinal Cordes’ “diligent service" to the Holy See, "first as Vice President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity and then as President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, where he tirelessly witnessed to the Pope's paternal solicitude for the poorest."

Funeral in St Peter’s Basilica

The funeral of Cardinal Cordes will take place on Monday, March 18th, at 3:00 PM, at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica.

The funeral liturgy will be celebrated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, together with cardinals, archbishops, and bishops.

At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, Pope Francis will preside over the rite of Final Commendation and Farewell.

Life

Cardinal Cordes played a significant role in the drafting of Pope Benedict XVI's first encyclical, "Deus Caritas est," in 2005. He was also instrumental in the inception of the Catholic World Youth Days and was a key supporter of new spiritual movements. The German Pope Benedict included his compatriot in the College of Cardinals in 2007.

In 1995, Pope John Paul II appointed the Cardinal as President of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum." Cordes remained in this position until his retirement due to age in 2010. After his retirement, he participated in the conclave in March 2013, from which Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio emerged as Pope.

The Chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, Bishop Georg Bätzing, praised Cardinal Cordes as a tireless collaborator of the Holy See under several Popes: "Paul Josef Cordes was the epitome of global coordination and support in disaster relief. He went to places where no one wanted to travel. In doing so, Paul Josef Cordes drew attention to the suffering in the refugee camps of Africa, human rights violations worldwide, and countless conflicts. For us, it is unforgettable that Archbishop Cordes was the first church representative to provide reconstruction aid after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq.”

Steadfastness and adherence to principles, a solid theological background, and subtle humor distinguished Paul Josef Cordes. "He did not hesitate to intervene in current church-political and theological debates and present the Roman perspective. He remained clear in substance and authoratative in tone," explained Bishop Bätzing.

With the death of Cardinal Cordes, the College of Cardinals now consists of 238 cardinals, of whom 129 are eligible to vote.