Brazilian Cardinal Cláudio Hummes has died at 87-years-old after a battle with lung cancer.
The Franciscan friar was prefect of the Congregation of the Clergy from 2006 to 2010 after serving eight years as archbishop of Sao Paulo.
Just days after the conclave that elected him Pope, Francis publicly credited the Cardinal with inspiring his choice of name.
POPE FRANCIS
In the election, I had next to me the Archbishop emeritus of São Paulo. He hugged me, he kissed me and said, do not forget the poor. The word got stuck here. The poor, the poor.
The Cardinal was deeply engaged in addressing climate and social justice issues, and was instrumental in implementing the Synod on the Amazonia.
He was only one week shy of his 88th birthday.
JM
