Pope’s condolences on the death of Card. Michele Giordano

(December 3, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI on Friday mourned the death of Cardinal Michele Giordano, former archbishop of Naples, Italy. The 80-year old prelate died on Thursday night in a hospital in Naples. In a message to current archbishop of Naples, Cardinal Crescenszio Sepe, the Pope shared the sorrows of the Church of Naples and the family of the late cardinal. Remembering him as a dear brother, the Holy Father recalled Cardinal Giordano’s generous service to the Gospel and the Church, first as a priest of Tursi-Lagonegro diocese, then as archbishop of Matera-Irsina and finally as archbishop of Naples. Born on July, 5, 1953 in Sant Arcangelo, Cardinal Girodano was ordained priest in 1953 for the diocese of Tursi-Lagonegro. In 1971 he was made Auxiliary Bishop of Matera-Irsina and later became its archbishop. In 1987 he was appointed archbishop of Naples and the following year was made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II. He retired in 2006.