Pope Says Austrian Cardinal Stickler Used 'Gifts of Mind and Heart' (RIP)

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI said Cardinal Alfons Stickler, who died Dec. 12 at the age of 97, used his "gifts of mind and heart" to serve the church.

The Austrian, who was the world's oldest living cardinal, died in Rome. The cause of death was not announced.

Pope Benedict was scheduled to celebrate his funeral Mass Dec. 14 in St. Peter's Basilica.

In a telegram of condolence to the cardinal's surviving brother and three sisters, Pope Benedict spoke of the cardinal's "many years of sincere and industrious collaboration with the Holy See," particularly his years as prefect of the Vatican Library and the Vatican Secret Archives.

In a separate telegram to the superior general of the Salesians, the religious order to which Cardinal Stickler belonged for 80 years, the pope said that, "with profound gratitude, I remember the gifts of mind and heart" of the cardinal.

The pope praised the cardinal especially for his service to the church during his years as a professor and then rector, 1958-66, of the Pontifical Salesian University in Turin, Italy.

Born in Neunkirchen, Austria, Aug. 23, 1910, he was the second of 12 children. He entered the Salesians in 1927 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1937.

He held a doctorate in canon law and served as an expert during the Second Vatican Council.

In 1971, Pope Paul VI named him director of the Vatican Library. In 1984, Pope John Paul II named him prefect of the library and the Vatican Secret Archives and inducted him into the College of Cardinals in 1985. The cardinal retired in 1988.

His death leaves the college with 200 members, 120 of whom are under the age of 80 and therefore eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope.

More on Cardinal Stickler:

From Catholic Church Conservation

Cardinal Stickler, one of the all time great Cardinals has died

Cathcon translation of obituary in Der Standard

Austrian Curial Cardinal Stickler has died

The eldest member of the Cardinalate was in his ninety eighth year and "passed away peacefully"

The Austrian Curia, Cardinal Alfonso Maria Stickler, the oldest member of the College of Cardinals, died in the Vatican on Wednesday evening at the age of 98, as Kathpress reports. The former prefect of the Vatican Library and Papal Archives (until 1988) came from Neunkirchen in Lower Austria, where he was born on 23 August 1910. While still young, he joined the Salesians of Don Bosco in 1937, and was ordained a priest. In September 1983 - just before the first visit to Austria by Pope John Paul II - was Stickler appointed in May 1985 to the Cardinal’s college, as Cardinal Bishop.

In 1983, Pope John Paul II appointed him as a successor to the Austrian Cardinal Antonio Samore, the "Pro-Librarian of the Holy Roman Church" and appointed him archbishop simultaneously to the Titular See of Bolsena. On 7 In July 1984, Pope John Paul II gave him responsibility also for the Vatican Secret Archives. During his tenure, Stickler tirelessly contined the the preservation and modernization of the Vatican library, which is not a repository of the world's richest collection of manuscripts (about 70,000), but also contains one million printed books, roughly 150,000 copper engravings, and a very valuable coin collection. Under the leadership of the Austrian cardinal, a great nuclear bomb proof bunker was built, in which the most important treasures of the library (including the "Codex Vaticanus) are accommodated.

The conservative traditionalist Stickler was extremely hostile to the "Popular Church Movement" in Austria. The Cardinal, who was a strong supporter of the pre-Conciliar rite of the Mass said at that time in precise words that the "rebellion" was directed against the Pope and "against the very essence of our faith." The conscience of the individual must be subordinate to the authority of the Magisterium.

"Passed away peacefully"

Cardinal Stickler passed away peacefully on Wednesday night at 19.30 pm said the Linz diocesan Bishop Ludwig Schwarz in conversation with Kathpress. Stickler knew well Schwarz from his time as Provincial of the Roman province of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The oldest Cardinal lived in his last years secluded in his apartment in the Palazzo del Sant'Uffizio.

The late Cardinal came from a large family. He was the second of twelve children. After graduation in Vienna, he entered the novitiate of the Salesians of Don Bosco, and was professed on 15 August 1928. He completed his theological studies in Benediktbeuern and taught in Turin and Rome. He was a Doctor iuris utriusque of the Lateran University

Stickler taught ecclesiastical legal history at the Canon Law Faculty of the Salesian University in Rome, was Dean of the faculty and finally Rector of the university. On 25 March 1971 (Ash Wednesday) Pope Paul VI appointed him the Prefect of the Vatican Library, which was according to Stickler himself, the most significant "change in his career path". On 8 September 1983, Stickler was appointed "Pro Librarian of the Holy Roman Church", while as well as Titular Bishop of Bolsena. Pope John Paul II personally consecrated him Bishop on the Feast of All Saints 1983. On 7 July 1984, Pope John Paul II also gave him responsibility for the Vatican Secret Archives. In the Consistory of 25 May 1985, Pope John Paul II made him Cardinal and give him as titular, the Church of San Giorgio in Velabro (the church was on the night of 27 to 28 July 1993 severely damaged in a bomb attack, believed to be the work of the Mafia). From this time, until his retirement, Stickler was Official Archivist and Librarian of the Holy Roman Church.

In March, Pope Benedict wrote Cardinal Stickler on the 70th anniversary of his ordination as a priest.

From Cardinal Stickler RIP, Letter from the Pope

LETTER OF POPE BENEDICT XVI. TO CARDINAL STICKLER ON THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS PRIESTHOOD
"Because I ... value you so highly, would I wish to praise God with you "

ROME, 13 December 2007.- On the occasion of yesterday's passing to his Heavenly Father of Alfons Maria Cardinal Stickler SDB, we publish the official translation of the message that Pope Benedict XVI sent at the end of March on the 70th Anniversary of the Cardinal’s ordination to the priesthood.

* * *

LETTER OF POPE BENEDICT XVI.
TO CARDINAL ALFONS MARIA SDB STICKLER
ON THE 70th ANNIVERSARY OF HIS PRIESTHOOD

To our reverend brother
ALFONS MARIA Cardinal SDB STICKLER
You, dear brother, as I know, are celebrating a very enjoyable anniversary of your priestly life, namely the seventieth anniversary of your ordination to the priesthood. On this unique occasion, and about all those fruits from your humble and true zeal for the good of the Church, I rejoice with you and send you with this letter my congratulations and assurance of my fraternal love.

The son of a Catholic family from Austria, you felt in your youth the charisma of St. John Bosco and was then attracted by the Religious Society of the Salesians. In your home, in Germany and in Italy, you have had an excellent education. On 27 March 1937, in the Lateran in Rome, you were ordained to the priesthood. You then continued your studies in church and civil law, which earned you a doctorate and then began teaching in the Church of the canon law faculty of the Pontifical Salesian University where you were subsequently dean and later rector. In addition, you were the first Head of the Institute for Higher Latin studies.

On 25 March 1971, my predecessor of blessed memory, Paul VI appointed you the prefect of the Vatican Library where you showed diligence and zeal in its expansion and modernization. Through your promotion of cooperation with various universities and outstanding scholars from around the world, science and culture have both benefited. In light of your merits, the Servant of God, Pope John Paul II on 8 September 1983 appointed you Pro-Librarian the Holy Roman Church, and still in the same year, on the Feast of All Saints, consecrated you bishop. Then he appointed you Pro-Archivist of the Holy Roman Church, and 1985 to the Cardinal’s college.

I, in my time as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, for many years lived in a neighbouring apartment and have come to know your kind humanity and priestly love and devotion. So I will now, at this joyful anniversary of your priesthood publicly express my good will and show my gratitude for your years of activities for the benefit of the whole Church. With you, the oldest Cardinal, who has become a patriarch, I would like to praise God for all his grace, which you so richly have received.

Please, dear brother, receive this as proof of my benevolence and, as a pledge of rich heavenly grace, I impart from the heart my apostolic blessing, first of all to you, then your family and your home and the entire religious society of the Salesians and all that are associated with you in charity.

From the Vatican, 26 March 2007, in the second year of my pontificate.

BENEDICTVS PP. XVI

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