Roberto Tucci

His Eminence Roberto Tucci, S.J.
Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Ignazio di Loyola a Campo Marzio
Appointed	21 February 2011
Term ended	14 April 2015
Predecessor	Paolo Dezza, S.J.
Orders
Ordination	24 August 1950
Created Cardinal	21 February 2001
Personal details
Birth name	Roberto Tucci
Born	(1921-04-19)19 April 1921 Naples, Italy
Died	14 April 2015(2015-04-14) (aged 93) Rome, Italy
Nationality	Italian
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Motto	In fide et caritate
Coat of arms

Styles of Roberto Tucci
Reference style	His Eminence
Spoken style	Your Eminence
Informal style	Cardinal

Roberto Tucci, SJ (19 April 1921 – 14 April 2015) was a Roman Catholic Jesuit cardinal and theologian. He was created cardinal by Pope John Paul II on 21 February 2001.

Cardinal Tucci was born in Naples, Italy in 1921 and entered the Society of Jesus on 1 October 1936. He studied classics at the University of Naples, where he also eventually received a doctorate in philosophy. He subsequently earned a licentiate in sacred theology from the Pontifical University of Louvain and a doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

He was ordained on 24 August 1950. After his ordination he taught as a faculty member at the Theological Seminary of "San Luigi" in Naples. He founded the journal Digest religioso, which was later renamed Rassegna di Teologia. He later worked a member of the preparatory commission on lay apostolate of the Second Vatican Council. He attended the Council as a peritus and was a member of the editorial committee of the Council's pastoral instruction on social communications "Communio et progressio" in its final phase. He was a consultor of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications from 1965 until 1989.

He served as Secretary General of the Italian conference of the Society of Jesus from 1967 until 1969. He also worked for Vatican Radio and was its director general until 1985. He was also a member of the board of directors of Georgetown University, Washington from 1977 to 1983.

He was awarded the Légion d'honneur by France in 1976, and was granted an honorary degree in law by the University of Notre Dame.

According to papal biographer George Weigel, Cardinal Tucci was for many years a scheduler of papal trips.

Cardinal

He was created and proclaimed Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Ignazio di Loyola a Campo Marzio in the consistory of 21 February 2001. He obtained from Pope John Paul II dispensation from the rule, introduced by Pope John XXIII and included in the Code of Canon Law,^[1] that all cardinals be ordained to the episcopate. On 21 February 2011, he opted for the order of Cardinal Priest, with his former diaconal church elevated to the level of cardinalitial title.^[2]

Cardinal Tucci died on 14 April 2015 at the age of 93. His Eminence, Angelo Cardinal Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals, and Cardinal Secretary of State Emeritus celebrated his Funeral Mass on the Friday of the Second Week of Easter, April 17, 2015, at the Altar of the Chair at St. Peter's Basilica, along with concelebrating cardinals, patriarchs, archbishops, bishops, priests and deacons. At the end of the Requiem Mass, Pope Francis himself presided over the Rites of Final Commendation and Valediction.^[3][4]

In a telegram of condolence sent by Pope Francis to the Superior General of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), the Very Rev. Fr Adolfo Nicolas Pachon, SJ, the Pope stated,

"I learned with sadness of the news of the death of the revered Lord Cardinal Roberto Tucci, S.J., a longtime and esteemed member of the Society of Jesus, and I desire to express my condolences and feelings of sympathy to the entire Society, to the late Cardinal's family and friends, and to all those who have known and esteemed the late Cardinal. I remember with profound gratitude the extremely valuable cooperation given by the Cardinal for many decades as the Director of La Civilta Cattolica, as a Peritus (Expert) to the Second Vatican Council, as the Director General of Vatican Radio, and especially as an organizer of Papal Visits outside Italy. He leaves the memory of a busy and dynamic life, always spent in consistent and generous adherence to his religious and priestly vocation, constantly attentive to the needs of others and faithful to the Gospel as a loyal and worthy shepherd of the Church, following the example of the founder of his order, Saint Ignatius of Loyola. I raise fervent prayers to the Risen Lord and to God the merciful Father, that they will welcome him into the joy of eternal light and peace, and to you and his Jesuit confreres I send a comforting Apostolic Benediction, as a sign of my intense participation in your mourning. - Franciscus, Pp."^[5][6]

References