Influential Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Former Secretary of State of the Vatican passes away

Italian Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who was secretary of state under Pope John Paul II and Benedict XV, died Friday night after being accused of covering up Chile’s apostolic mission and sexual abuse during the years of dictatorship. 94 years old in Rome.

Cardinal, who was One of the most powerful men in the VaticanIt was a long time He was hospitalized at the Roman Clinic for complications after suffering from Covit-19Vatican media has confirmed.

Born November 23, 1927 in Isola de Asti, Piedmont (northern Italy). He has been in office with John Paul II since 1991 and accepted his resignation until September 15, 2006.On December 21, 2019 he resigned as dean of the College of Cardinals.

Before becoming Secretary of State, Sodano had a serious diplomatic career Ecuador and then Uruguay and in 1968 he returned to Rome.The then Foreign Secretary Agostino Cassaroli invited Holy See to handle relations with European countries.

In 1977 he was appointed Nancio in Chile, under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, was the architect of John Paul II’s expedition to the country in 1987..

Cardinal was charged in Chile Pastor Fernando Kardima has covered up the abuse of minorsWith whom he had a close relationship, in addition Failed to report victims’ complaints As well as put the good word to elevate those who covered up the case as bishops.

One of the victims of Kardima, Chile Juan Carlos CruzHe wrote on social media after hearing the news “He was a man who caused great harm to many people and covered up years of abuse in Chile and around the world.”.

Sodano is credited The Vatican’s successful mediation between Chile and Argentina in 1978 For the resolution of the regional dispute over the Beagle Canal.

After ten years as ambassador to Chile in 1988, John Paul II invited him to replace Cardinal Axil Sylvestine as secretary of the Council for Public Affairs of the Church.. One year later, the Apostolic Constitution, Pastor Bonus came into force, and he accepted the title of Sodano. Secretary for Relations with the StatesHe dedicated himself to the Pontifical Commission for Russia, of which he was president.

He has represented the Holy See at various international conferences, such as the Foreign Ministers’ Conference on Defense and Cooperation in Europe. In December 1990, he took over as Secretary of State, and on June 29, 1991, a day after being appointed Cardinal, he became Secretary of State.

He went inside with Vojtila 54 Benedict XVI served one year after being elected Dean of the College of International Travels and Cardinals For many years.

In 2010 it was Archbishop Christophe Schோர்nborn of Vienna accused Sodono of hurting victims of sexual abuse and of covering up the crimes committed at the time by Hans Hermann Groyer, then head of the Diocese of Vienna..

(With information from EFE)

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