Pope mourns death of Cardinal Giovanni Canestri

(Vatican Radio) The Archdiocese of Genoa has announced the death, on Wednesday, of Cardinal Giovanni Canestri, Archbishop Emeritus of Genoa.

In a telegram addressed to Cardinal Agostino Vallini, the Vicar General of Rome, Pope Francis spoke of the "deep emotion" aroused in his heart upon hearing of the death of Cardinal Canestri. The Holy Father expressed his admiration for "an esteemed man of the Church, who lived his long and fruitful priesthood and episcopacy with humility and fidelity in the service of the Gospel and of the souls entrusted to him." The Pope remembered the late Cardinal's "pastoral wisdom" and "his generous attention to the needs of others."

Pope Francis assured Cardinal Vallini of his prayers for the soul of Cardinal Canestri, and granted the Apostolic Benediction to all who mourned the Cardinal's death. 

Biography

Cardinal Canestri was born 30 September 1918 in Castelspina, in the Diocese of Alexandria. He was ordained a priest at the Lateran Basilica in Rome in April 1941, where he served as Pastor and Spiritual Director at the Roman Major Seminary. Pope John XXIII named him a Bishop, appointing him as Auxiliary to the Cardinal Vicar of Rome. He participated in the Second Vatican Council, making interventions on the topics of ecumenism and religious liberty.

In 1971, the then Bishop Canestri was appointed to the residential See of Tortona. After four years as head of the local Church in Tortona, he was recalled to Rome by Pope Paul VI, who named him Vicegerent of the Diocese of Rome. In 1984, Pope John Paul II named him as Archbishop of Cagliari; just three years later, in 1987, Canestri was appointed Archbishop of Genoa-Bobbio, succeeding Cardinal Giuseppe Siri.

Archbishop Canestri was created Cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 1988. He continued to guide the Archdiocese of Genoa until his retirement in 1995.

College of Cardinals

With the death of Cardinal Canestri, there are now 222 living Cardinals, including 120 below the age of 80 and thus entitled to vote in a conclave.