Mexican Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragán has died in Rome at the age of 89. Under Pope John Paul II, he was the equivalent of the Vatican's minister of health, a role which was eventually incorporated into the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
CARD. JAVIER LOZANO BARRAGÁN
Truly I don't know how it came to be. He appointed me as the president of this dicastery for health, but I was not dedicated to health issues, rather I was dedicated to my specialties: theology, culture, catechesis, dialogue with the political aspects of Latin America.
Cardinal Barragán was one of the key figures of John Paul II's pontificate as a fierce advocate for the right to life.
On the Wednesday of Holy Week he suffered a fall, and was taken to the St. Pius XI clinic in Rome. Pope Francis visited him on Good Friday prior to the Stations of the Cross, and doctors told him that his condition was very delicate.
Cardinal Barragán will be buried in Mexico. With his death, the college of cardinals falls to 210 members, of which 117 are eligible to vote in a conclave.
RM
TR: JM
