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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.

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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