Italian Cardinal Velasio De Paolis (81), President Emeritus of the Prefecture for Economic Affairs of the Holy See (2008-2011), died on September 9, 2017 in Rome, the Holy See Press Office said in a statement, September 9.
According to the Vatican, he was born on September 19, 1935, in Sonnino, Italy. He made his first profession in 1955, and then his perpetual profession with the Congregation of the Missionaries of Saint Charles (Scalabrinians) on 4 October 1958 and was ordained a priest on 18 March 1961.
He was subsequently sent to Rome to study and earned a law degree from La Sapienza University, a licentiate in theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas and a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University. Subsequently, he began teaching moral theology as well as canon law in Rome and served in various positions within his religious order.
On December 30, 2003 he was appointed secretary of the Supreme Tribunal of the Signature and elevated to titular Bishop of Telepte. He was ordained to the episcopate on February 21, 2004.
On April 12, 2008 he was nominated President of the Prefecture for Economic Affairs of the Holy See and elevated to the dignity of archbishop. On July 9, 2010 he was appointed pontifical delegate for the Congregation of Legionaries of Christ; he was elevated to Cardinal the same year. He participated in the conclave of March 2013, which elected Pope Francis.
Cardinal De Paolis authored many books and articles. He has been an assiduous collaborator of the scientific journal “Periodica de re canonica” and has been part of various associations devoted to the study of canon law. He also devoted himself to apostolic activity, especially to the preaching of spiritual exercises.
