VATICAN CITY, APRIL 30, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is mourning the death of Cardinal Paul Mayer, who passed away today at the age of 98.
Though retired at the time of his death, the cardinal had served as prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments and president of the Pontifical Commission «Ecclesia Dei.»
In a telegram sent to Nokter Wolf, abbot primate of the Benedictine Confederation, the congregation to which the cardinal belonged, the Pope affirmed the «affectionate mourning» in his soul when he heard the news of the «pious departure» of the cardinal.
The Pontiff expressed «sentiments of heartfelt grief» to the abbot, to all the Benedictine family and to the relatives of the deceased.
He stated that Cardinal Mayer «leaves the indelible memory of an industrious life spent with mildness and rectitude in coherent adherence to his vocation as a monk and pastor, full of zeal for the Gospel and always faithful to the Church.»
The Holy Father recalled the cardinal’s «qualified commitment in the liturgical realm and in that of universities and seminaries,» and above all his «appreciated service to the Holy See first in the preparatory commission of the Second Vatican Council, then in various dicasteries of the Roman Curia.»
«I raise fervent prayers so that the Lord will receive this worthy brother in eternal joy and peace,» he adds.
Paul Mayer was born in Altotting, Germany, on May 23, 1911. He entered the Benedictine Order making his monastic profession in 1931, and receiving his priestly ordination in 1935.
With his death, the College of Cardinals now has 180 cardinals: 108 electors and 72 non-electors.
