Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, vice-dean of the College of Cardinals, turns 80 years old. Therefore, he loses the possibility of voting in the event of a conclave.
The Cardinal's work in the Vatican has been notable. In addition to serving as Nuncio to Venezuela and Mexico, he was the Substitute for General Affairs for the Secretariat of State—the highest diplomatic body of the Holy See.
Cardinal Sandri's longest appointment was as the head of the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches, which he held from 2007 to 2022. In 2022, he spoke about the situation of the Church in Ukraine.
CARD. LEONARDO SANDRI
This has really led to a crisis in all churches as well because everyone has had to support the victims of these wars, above all, the refugees, the wounded, the poor, who are now coming to the front with the massive destruction from this ongoing war.
Many will remember him as the spokesperson for Pope John Paul II during his final months. The Pope had undergone a tracheotomy and Cardinal Sandri was responsible for delivering the papal speeches.
The Cardinal also announced the death of the Polish pope to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square on April 2, 2005.
May our prayerful silence accompany these first moments of Holy Father John Paul II's meeting with Christ in heaven.
Two years later, in 2007, he was created a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI. With Cardinal Sandri's 80th birthday, the number of cardinal electors in the event of a future conclave will be 135.
CA
TR: KG
