Card Sodano’s funeral took place on the morning of May 31 in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. In his homily, Card Ray presided over the funeral mass and recalled the former Holy See Secretary of State’s lifelong love of Christ and faithful service to the Church and the Pope.
(Vatican News Network)Cardinal Angelo Sodano’s funeral took place on the morning of May 31 at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Card Giovanni Battista Re presided over the funeral Mass. At the end of the Eucharist, Pope Francis personally gave a final farewell to Cardinal Sodano, entrusting his soul to the merciful arms of Almighty God.
In his homily at Mass, Cardinal Ray reflected on Cardinal Sodano’s seventy-one years of priesthood and sixty years of service to the Holy See. “During his long service to the Holy See, Cardinal Sodano firmly believed in Christ and followed him faithfully, serving the Church and the representatives of Christ on earth with love and devotion.”
Card Ray preached that the late Card Sodano, after his ordination in 1950, began to teach theology in diocese monasteries and to do youth pastoral apostolic work. Served the Holy See since 1961, serving at the Holy See embassies in various Latin American countries during and shortly after the Second Vatican Council. Later, starting in 1968, he worked in Holy See diplomacy in Eastern Europe at the height of the Cold War. In 1977, Pope Paul VI appointed him ambassador of the Holy See to Chile, and he was ordained as archbishop. About ten years later, Pope John Paul II recalled him to Rome and appointed him Secretary-General of the Holy See’s State Department for Relations with States. Two years later, Sodano was named acting secretary of state; shortly thereafter, he was promoted to cardinal, serving as secretary of state to the Holy See until 2006. “In his nearly 16 years as the Pope’s chief collaborator, he has worked with talent and dedication to the mission of peace,” said Card Ray.
In conclusion, Card Ray emphasized that Card Sodano is due to his “intelligence and heart, his sensitivity to the pastoral goals of the Church’s actions in the world; his wisdom in assessing events and situations, and his willingness to help. , seeking appropriate solutions in any situation”, thereby contributing to the Church and the world.
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