RIP Cardinal Gerardo Majella Agnelo - Pope Francis Sends Condolences on the Death of Brazil's Cardinal Agnelo at Age 89

Cardinal Gerardo Majella Agnelo, died on 26 August, at the age of 89, in Londrina, the State of Parana in Brazil. Pope Francis sent condolences on death of the Cardinal. In a telegram Pope Francis sends his condolences on the death of Cardinal Majella Agnelo on 26 August in Brazil, recalling his service to the Church, "always guided by apostolic zeal".

Pope Francis expressed his profound sorrow in a telegram addressed to Cardinal Sergio Da Rocha, Metropolitan Archbishop of San Salvador de Bahia, in which the Pope expressed his condolences, assuring his prayers to the Lord "for the eternal repose of the venerable prelate."

"My prayers," Pope Francis wrote, "are also of gratitude to God for the long years of his service dedicated to Holy Mother Church, always guided by apostolic zeal in the various missions entrusted to him as Bishop of Toledo, Archbishop of Londrina, Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, and finally, Archbishop Primate of Brazil and president of the Episcopal Conference."

Pope Francis then offered Archbishop Da Rocha "and all those who join in prayer for the eternal rest" of the deceased cardinal, his apostolic blessing as "a pledge of consolation and hope in eternal life." (Vatican News)

Biography : Cardinal Geraldo Majella Agnelo, Archbishop emeritus of São Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, was born on 19 October 1933 in Juiz de Fora, Brazil. He was ordained for the Archdiocese of São Paulo on 29 June 1957 and holds a doctorate in liturgy from the Pontifical Athenaeum of St Anselm, Rome.

He was director of the philosophical seminary, Aparecida, spiritual director and professor at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Ipiranga, professor of liturgical and sacramental theology at Pius XI Theological Institute and rector of Our Lady of the Assumption Seminary.

On 5 May 1978 he was appointed Bishop of Toledo and received episcopal ordination on 6 August. On 4 October 1982 he was promoted to Archbishop of Londrina. He was President of the Brazilian Bishops' Liturgical Commission. On 16 September 1991 he was appointed Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

He was named Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia on 13 January 1999.

He was nominated second Vice President of CELAM in May 1999 until May 2003.

In May 2003 he was elected president of the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops and finished his mandate in May 2007.

President of the Fifth General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate, Aparecida, Brazil (13 - 31 May 2007).

Archbishop emeritus of São Salvador da Bahia, 12 January 2001.

He participated in the conclave of April 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI and in the conclave of March 2013, which elected Pope Francis.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by the St. John Paul II in the consistory of 21 February 2001, of the Title ofSan Gregorio Magno alla Magliana Nuova (St. Gregory the Great at Magliana Nuova).

Biography Source: Vatican.va