Cardinal Angelo Amato, former prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints who oversaw numerous important canonizations, including that of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, died on December 31, 2024 at the age of 86.
A member of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Cardinal Amato served in the Holy See in key positions over four decades.
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In a telegram lamenting his death, Pope Francis praised this January 1 “the edifying testimony of this spiritual son of Saint John Bosco who for many years dedicated himself with human refinement and generosity to the Gospel and the Church.”
The Pontiff’s message was sent to Father Stefano Martoglio, vicar of the Rector Major of the Salesians, and highlights the “priestly spirit and theological preparation” of the cardinal with those who served the Holy See, particularly in the then Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
The Vatican reported that the funeral Mass will be celebrated on January 2 at 2 p.m. at the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter’s Basilica, with Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re as main celebrant. Pope Francis will preside over the last commendation and farewell.
The biography of Cardinal Angelo Amato
Born in Molfetta (Italy), on June 8, 1938, Angelo Amato made his first religious profession in 1956 and was ordained a priest in 1967.
His academic career led him to roles in theological education, including positions at the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Pontifical Salesian University, where he served as dean.
Likewise, he lived for a period in Greece, where he carried out research on Orthodox theology. Pope John Paul II appointed him secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 2002, and Pope Benedict XVI named him prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in 2008. The German Pontiff created him a cardinal in 2010.
“True to his motto My grace is sufficient (my grace is sufficient), even in recent times marked by suffering, he abandoned himself to the goodness of the heavenly Father,” Pope Francis noted in his message.
Translated and adapted by the ACI Prensa team. Originally published in CNA.
AC Wimmer
AC Wimmer is founding editor-in-chief of CNA Deutsch. This polyglot Australian, raised in Bavaria and South Africa, held senior positions at Australia’s SBS and was editor-in-chief of the historic Münchner Kirchenzeitung. Graduated in Philosophy and Chinese Studies from the University of Melbourne, Anian Christoph Wimmer – Chinese name 刘威猛 – was part of the jury for the Media Prize of the German Bishops’ Conference, is a former honorary researcher in Communications at the University of Melbourne and was part of the Caritas Council in Munich.