exclamation

Important notice: To continue serving our valued readers during the postal disruption, complete unrestricted access to the digital edition is available at no extra cost. This will ensure uninterrupted digital access to your copies. Click here to view the digital edition, or learn more.

Cardinal Elio Sgreccia, former head of the Pontifical Academy for Life, died June 5 at the age of 90. In his role at the academy Cardinal Sgreccia helped articulate the Vatican's position on life issues. He is pictured leaving a session of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family at the Vatican in this Oct. 16, 2014, file photo.
Cardinal Elio Sgreccia, former head of the Pontifical Academy for Life, died June 5 at the age of 90. In his role at the academy Cardinal Sgreccia helped articulate the Vatican's position on life issues. He is pictured leaving a session of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family at the Vatican in this Oct. 16, 2014, file photo. CNS photo/Paul Haring

Former president of papal academy dies day before his 91st birthday

By  Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service
  • June 5, 2019

VATICAN CITY -- The former head of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Cardinal Elio Sgreccia, died June 5, just one day shy of his 91st birthday.

A bioethics expert, the president emeritus helped articulate the Vatican's position on many important issues such as embryonic stem-cell research, euthanasia, the definition of brain death, abortion and in vitro fertilization.

Cardinal Sgreccia was the founding leader and "courageous and knowledgeable soul of our institution, supporting and promoting the studies and safeguarding of human life" in the face of all the challenges posed by advancements in the biomedical field, the academy said in a press release.

The academy praised the cardinal's important and precious contribution to the academy and to church teaching.

Cardinal Sgreccia was born June 6, 1928, in Arcevia, Italy. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1952 and served as rector of the local seminary. St. John Paul II ordained him a bishop in 1993.

The cardinal served as secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Family before St. John Paul named him head of the academy for life in 2005, a position he held until his retirement in 2008. Pope Benedict XVI made him a cardinal in 2010 at the age of 82.

He wrote numerous books on pastoral care in health care, medical ethics and the family, and served as president of the International Federation of Bioethics Centers. At the invitation of Pope Francis, he participated in the Synod of Bishops on the family in 2014 and 2015.

Cardinal Sgreccia's death leaves the College of Cardinals with 220 members, 120 of whom are under the age of 80 and therefore eligible to vote in a conclave.

Tagged under:

Related items

More in this category: « Taize superior says community has received five abuse allegations Questions remain despite Vatican-China agreement on bishop appointments »

Please support The Catholic Register

Unlike many media companies, The Catholic Register has never charged readers for access to the news and information on our website. We want to keep our award-winning journalism as widely available as possible. But we need your help.

For more than 125 years, The Register has been a trusted source of faith-based journalism. By making even a small donation you help ensure our future as an important voice in the Catholic Church. If you support the mission of Catholic journalism, please donate today. Thank you.

DONATE