German Cardinal Georg Sterzinsky passes away

(June 30, 2011) We regret to announce the death of German Cardinal Georg Sterzinsky, retired bishop of Berlin, who passed away early Thursday morning. The 75-year old prelate was born at Warlack in the German diocese of Warmia
9th February 1936. He was ordained priest 29th June, 1960 in the Cathedral of Erfurt. After a few years as assistant of theology in the seminary of Erfurt, he served from 1966 -1981 as the parish priest of the community of St. John the Baptist in the university city of Jena. At the end of 1981, he was elected the Apostolic Administrator of the territory of Erfurt–Meningen. Eight years later, in 1989 he was elected the Bishop of Berlin. He was raised to the rank of cardinal by late Pope John Paul II in the consistory of June 28, 1991
With Cardinal Sterzinsky’s death, the number of cardinals worldwide now stands at 197, of whom 114 are below eighty years of age and hence are eligible to vote for a new pope.