Cardinal Albert Vanhoye from France has died at the Jesuit curia in Rome at 98 years old.
Cardinal Vanhoye was the oldest member of the College of Cardinals. He was an expert on Sacred Scripture, holding the role of rector of the Pontifical Biblical Institute. Pope Benedict XVI praised him as a talented biblical scholar, and named him secretary of the Pontifical Biblical Commission.
The Pope Emeritus also made him a cardinal in 2006. Since he was more than 80 years old at the time, he was not present at the conclave which elected Pope Francis.
The College of Cardinals falls to 220 members, of which 123 are eligible to vote in the next conclave.
Javier Romero
TR: JM
