Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, canon law scholar, dies at age 81

Last updated on: September 9, 2017 at 3:17 pm by CNA Daily News

Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, canon law scholar, dies at age 81 2017-09-09T15:17:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Rome, Italy, Sep 9, 2017 / 09:17 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Vatican announced Saturday that Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, C.S., prefect emeritus of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See and a distinguished professor and scholar of canon law, has died in Rome.

Cardinal De Paolis died Sept. 9, just 10 days shy of his 82nd birthday. Details of the cardinal’s death have not yet been released.

A scholar and professor, Cardinal De Paolis taught moral theology and canon law in Rome for nearly 40 years, publishing more than 200 books and articles on scientific topics, spirituality and canon law.

Most recently, in 2014, he was a contributor to the book, “Remaining in the Truth of Christ: Marriage and Communion in the Catholic Church.”

Edited by Fr. Robert Dodaro, O.S.A., it was written in response to Cardinal Walter Kasper's suggestion that the Church allow those who are divorced and civilly remarried without an annulment to receive the Eucharist.

Besides Cardinal De Paolis, among the nine contributors to the book were Cardinals Walter Brandmuller, Raymond Burke, Gerhard Muller and Carlo Caffarra, who passed away Sept. 6 at the age of 79.

Cardinal De Paolis was born in Sonnino, Italy on Sept. 19, 1935. He became a professed member of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Saint Charles Borromeo (Scalabrinians) in 1958 and was ordained a priest of the order on March 18, 1961.

He studied in Rome, earning a law degree from La Sapienza University, a licentiate in theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, and a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University.

At the end of 2003, he was appointed secretary of the Supreme Tribunal of the Signatura and elevated to titular bishop of Thelepte by Pope John Paul II.

He was ordained a bishop Feb. 21, 2004.

In April 2008, he was appointed president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See by Pope Benedict XVI.

He was elevated to cardinal in the consistory of Nov. 20, 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI and appointed cardinal-deacon of Gesu Pastore alla Montagnola.

In 2010, Benedict XVI also nominated him as a pontifical delegate for the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ after abuses by the congregation’s founder were made public. In this position he oversaw the congregation until the drafting of their new constitution.

He was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on May 4, 2011, serving until he reached the mandatory retirement age of 80 in 2015.

Europe

Previous Post

September 9, 2017

Pope issues new directives on revision, translation of liturgical texts

Next Post

September 9, 2017 Pope Francis in Colombia: True freedom is found in courageous discipleship

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who became jealous and tried to kill David several times?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Abiathar Samuel Saul Abner