Cardinal Angelo Sodano passed away in Rome on Friday at age 94. He suffered from various ailments and had recently had Covid-19.
The cardinal served as Secretary of State for Pope John Paul II from 1991, and for one year under Benedict XVI, stepping down in 2006.
He was also the Dean of the College of Cardinals from 2005 to 2019.
Despite his many long years in Vatican diplomacy, his legacy in recent years has been mired by accusations that he was instrumental in keeping certain priests protected from Vatican investigations or discipline. For example, he was thought to be one of the reasons that the founder of the Legionaries of Christ, Marcial Maciel, went so long without being discovered as an abuser and addict.
Angelo Sodano was born in northern Italy on November 23, 1927, and ordained a priest in 1950.
