Card. Giovanni Cheli laid to rest

February 09, 2013: The eight Beatitudes were the inspirational stars of his long life, said Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, during his homily on Saturday at the funeral Mass for card. Giovanni Cheli, President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant people. Cardinal Cheli passed away on Friday early morning. The funeral was held in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, on Saturday evening.

Cardinal Sodano said that he has the honor to preside on behalf of the Holy Father Benedict XVI, who has expressly instructed him to represent. The Cardinal said that Pope Benedict XVI had feelings of deep respect and gratitude for Cardinal Cheli’s long and generous service to the Holy See.

Recalling his association with the late Cardinal, Sodano said: Personally I was very attached to him because we were both trained for the priesthood at the same seminary of Asti, in Piedmont. When he was ordained a priest in our Cathedral Astense, in 1942, I was still in high school, but since then followed again with great edification of his apostolic work, first in the diocese and then in the service of the Holy See.

In the diocese he was famous for his charity work in 1945, adding this work of charity was always one of his hard work in Nunciature, both in Guatemala and in Spain and Italy. So it was during his long service to the Holy See in the Secretariat of State in New York at the United Nations, and then again in Rome in the service of migrants.

Cardinal Sodano invited all to receive the message of Cardinal Cheli, namely, his testimony of a continuous search for the Beatitudes, which Christ has promised in the famous Sermon on the Mount, the Cardinal added.