News
Featured Image

Pray for the souls of the deceased dubia Cardinals. Sign the pledge here.

ROME, September 6, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) – Cardinal Raymond Burke paid tribute today to fellow dubia signer Cardinal Carlo Caffarra on his passing after a long illness.

In a statement to LifeSiteNews, Burke said he was “deeply saddened” by the 79-year-old’s death, and that he was a “true man of the Church.”

“In a particular way, I treasured my close association with him, over the past three years, in seeking to dispel the gravely harmful confusion and error regarding the Sacraments of Marriage and the Holy Eucharist,” Burke said.

Caffarra and Burke joined Cardinals Joachim Meisner and Walter Brandmuller in a public call for Pope Francis to clarify that his controversial exhortation Amoris Laetitia does not violate the Church’s teaching and tradition. The Pope has thus far not responded and has refused to meet with them.

Caffarra, the former archbishop Bologna, is the second of the four to die after Meisner’s death in July.

The Italian cardinal held a doctorate in canon law and was a specialist in moral theology. In 1981, Pope Saint John Paul II appointed him the founding president of the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family.

“He had a remarkably profound understanding of the truths of the faith which was the fruit of years of study in which he continued to be engaged until his death,” Cardinal Burke said.

“His work in serving the truth regarding marriage and its fruit, the family, is a most important and lasting heritage,” he added.

“While I am profoundly sad to lose his earthly company, I am happy for him. Praying for the eternal rest of the good and faithful Cardinal, I think of the words of Saint Paul, as he approached death: ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.’ (2 Tim 4, 7).”

“May those of us who remain on earthly pilgrimage continue the work of Cardinal Carlo Caffarra, counting upon the help of his love and prayers.”

 

Cardinal Burke’s full statement

I am deeply saddened by the death of Cardinal Carlo Caffarra, a true man of the Church, whom I have been blessed to know for many years. In a particular way, I treasured my close association with him, over the past three years, in seeking to dispel the gravely harmful confusion and error regarding the Sacraments of Marriage and the Holy Eucharist. He had a remarkably profound understanding of the truths of the faith which was the fruit of years of study in which he continued to be engaged until his death. Frequently, he spoke about the extraordinary grace of working with Pope Saint John Paul II in the foundation of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family. His work in serving the truth regarding marriage and its fruit, the family, is a most important and lasting heritage. I was just with Cardinal Caffarra for four days in mid-August, giving, with him, presentations on the Sacred Liturgy, Divine Law and the Moral Law. Although it was clear that his health was fragile, he was fully and energetically engaged in teaching, in helping a group of the lay faithful to deepen their understanding of the faith with a view to a more coherent practice of the faith. While I am profoundly sad to lose his earthly company, I am happy for him. Praying for the eternal rest of the good and faithful Cardinal, I think of the words of Saint Paul, as he approached death: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim 4, 7). May Cardinal Caffarra now receive “the crown of righteousness” which Our Lord awards to “all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim 4, 8). May those of us who remain on earthly pilgrimage continue the work of Cardinal Carlo Caffarra, counting upon the help of his love and prayers.