Cardinal Angelo Sodano passed away from COVID at the age of 94. Even though he had retired years ago, he is remembered for celebrating the Mass for the future Pope Francis during the conclave of 2012.
But above all, Cardinal Sodano will be remembered for the 15 years he spent as the Vatican Secretary of State from 1991 to 2006.
During his tenure, he expanded the Vatican's network of diplomatic relations, extending it to include Russia. He also stood with Pope John Paul II when he rejected the plan to invade Iraq in 2003.
Cardinal Sodano faced controversy for his relationship with the founder of the Legonaries of Christ and former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and for not taking a stronger position on the issue of abuse.
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