Pope Francis celebrates funeral rites for Cardinal Nicora

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis celebrated the funeral rites for Cardinal Attilio Nicora in St. Peter’s Basilica on Monday.

Cardinal Nicora, the former president of the Vatican’s Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA), died on Saturday at the age of 80.

The funeral rites and homily were delivered by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals.

Cardinal Sodano recalled the long and generous service offered by Cardinal Nicora to the Holy See, saying he “was consecrated to the service of the Church”.

During the Mass at the Altar of the Chair, Pope Francis presided over the rites of Commendatio and Valedictio.

In a telegramme sent on Sunday, the Holy Father expressed his gratitude for the Cardinal’s precious service to the Church and to civil society in Italy, especially in the legal field, noting his contribution to the revision of the Lateran Pacts and later his work as President of APSA and AIF.