A grave mourning hits the Sardinian Church. During the night Cardinal Luigi De Magistris died.

Born in Cagliari in 1926, on 23 February he would have been 96 years old.

After graduating in Philosophy at the University of Cagliari and training seminars at the Roman Seminary, he was ordained a priest by Archbishop Paolo Botto in the cathedral on 12 April 1952.

On 6 March 1996 he was elected bishop by John Paul II and on 28 April of the same year consecrated by Cardinal Giovanni Canestri in the church of Sant'Anna in Cagliari. On November 22, 2001 he became major pro penitentiary, a post he then renounced due to age limits on October 4, 2004.

He returned permanently to his hometown in 2010, until a few years ago he carried out the ministry of confessor in the Cathedral.

At the Angelus of February 4, 2015, Pope Francis announced his creation as cardinal in the subsequent consistory of February 14. Three days later he had possession of the diaconate of the Most Holy Names of Jesus and Mary in via Lata.

"The Archbishop of Cagliari, Giuseppe Baturi, and the entire diocesan community - writes the diocese in a note -, recalling with admiration and gratitude the intense apostolic work of Cardinal De Magistris, raises fervent prayers to the Lord so that he may welcome this servant faithful in the heavenly Jerusalem and grant his comfort to his family and to all those who enjoyed his friendship during the time of his earthly life ”.

THE POPE'S MESSAGE - A message also arrived from Pope Francis through a telegram sent to Monsignor Baturi in which we read: "In learning the news of the death of Cardinal Luigi De Magistris, illustrious son of this land, I wish to express to family members, to you, to the presbytery and to the faithful all my closeness and my condolences for the mourning that has affected the entire ecclesial community ". "In remembering this esteemed brother who, animated by irreproachable priestly zeal, served the Lord and the Church with great dedication - continues the Pontiff -, I think with gratitude of his generous commitment to the Holy See as a diligent and wise collaborator of my predecessors". "I also think - adds Francis - of his love for the ministry of reconciliation, which he has always carried out with admirable diligence, striving for the good of souls". "I raise my prayer to the Lord - concludes the Pope - so that, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Trust, he may welcome this faithful servant in the heavenly Jerusalem, and I cordially impart my blessing to all who take part in the funeral rite".

CORDOGLIO A CAGLIARI - "A moving farewell to a great Sardinian, who served the Catholic Church with love and total dedication, with simplicity and humility combined with a deep human sympathy and cordiality", the memory of the President of the Region, Christian Solinas. "A straightforward man, of very deep culture and great humanity. Cardinal De Magistris, the oldest Italian cardinal - Solinas still remembers - has always maintained a profound bond with Cagliari and Sardinia, never interrupted despite the heavy and prestigious assignments carried out at service of the Holy See. Every moment of encounter with him was an occasion of great interior, spiritual and human enrichment ". The president paid homage to the Cardinal's body in the funeral home set up in the Cathedral of Cagliari.

"A man of great culture and sensitivity - the words of the mayor Paolo Truzzu - of whom we will always remember with gratitude the intense apostolic work. A great admiration on the part of all Cagliari citizens for a man of the church who knew a profound theological knowledge to share an equally profound generosity, maintaining constant over time and despite the commitments to the Holy See, his love for our city ".

"Today is a day of mourning for all Sardinians - the memory of the president of the regional council, Michele Pais - the island loses not only a great priest but a humble person, dedicated all his life to the most difficult, the fragile, to the sick, to the suffering. His generosity and his self-denial will be remembered for a long time. Despite the prestigious positions he also held in the Vatican, Cardinal De Magistris has never forgotten Sardinia and Cagliari in particular by choosing to spend his last days of his earthly life ".

(Unioneonline / ss)

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