With this note, the Archdiocese of Brasilia expressed sadness for the death of Card. José Freire Falcão. He was 95 years old and is the third cardinal to die from complications caused by Covid-19.
The other two cardinals were Cardinal Eusébio Oscar Scheid, also from Brazil, and Venezuelan cardinal, Jorge Urosa.
Cardinal José Freire was Archbishop of Brasilia for 20 years, from 1984 to 2004. Pope John Paul II created him cardinal in 1988. Cardinal Freire participated in the conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI.
The cardinal was not a cardinal elector because he was well over the 80-year-old limit. With his death, the number of cardinals falls to 217.
JRB
