Cardinals and staff from the Roman Curia participated in the funeral of Polish cardinal Zenon Grocholewski.
The vice dean of the College of Cardinals, Leonardo Sandri was in charge of presiding over the ceremony.
CARD. LEONARDO SANDRI
Vice Dean, College of Cardinals
'Let us entrust to the Lord the soul of this priest and bishop.'
Pope Francis participated in the last rites of the ceremony, in a prayer state of recollection.
Zenon Grocholewski was appointed cardinal on the same day as Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He died at age 80, after decades of work in the Vatican, especially the Congregation for Catholic Education. This department deals with pontifical universities.
CARD. ZENON GROCHOLEWSKI
Congregation for Catholic Education
'When a school is Catholic, teachers and students must understand that Catholic values will be taught. Of course we respect other religions, but it is our right to transmit Christian values.'
The Vatican has held very few ceremonies since COVID-19 hit Italy.
Yet, cardinals, friends and members of the Curia wanted to say their last goodbye to the Polish cardinal. Zenon Grocholewski was a great collaborator of John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
Javier Romero
Translation: Melissa Butz
