VATICAN CITY - 24 April 2008 - 340 words
Cardinal
Lopez Trujillo: tireless defender of the family
Yesterday in St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Benedict XVI gave a homily
following the funeral Mass for the late Cardinal Alfonso Lopez
Trujillo, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family,
who died on Saturday 19 April at the age of 72.
The Mass was celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the
College of Cardinals.
The Holy Father recalled the life of the youngest cardinal created
by John Paul II in the consistory of 1983, recalling his priestly
ordination in 1960, his work as auxiliary bishop of Bogota in
the 1970s, as president of the Latin American Episcopal Council
from 1979 to 1983, as president of the Episcopal Conference of
Colombia from 1987 to 1990, and his appointment as president of
the Pontifical Council for the Family in 1990.
The Pope highlighted "the zeal and passion" with which
the cardinal worked over the last 18 years, "his tireless
activity in safeguarding and promoting the family and Christian
marriage" as well as "the courage with which he defended
the non-negotiable values of human life".
Among the late cardinal's achievements, the Pope mentioned "the
'Lexicon', which is a valuable formational text for pastoral care
workers and an instrument for dialogue with the modern world on
the fundamental themes of Christian ethics. We cannot", he
added, "but be grateful for the tenacious battle he fought
to defend the truth of familial love and to spread the gospel
of the family".
"The late cardinal drew his love for the truth about mankind
and for the gospel of the family from the belief that each human
being and each family reflects the mystery of God Who is Love",
said the Pope. He also recalled the Synod of 1997 during which
the president of the Pontifical Council for the Family "proposed
a highly effective form of spirituality for those committed to
realising the divine plan for the family; and he highlighted the
fact that if science does not dedicate itself to understanding
life and to educating for life, it will lose the most important
battles in the fascinating and mysterious field of genetic engineering".
Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, whose motto was "Veritas in caritate",
dedicated "his entire life to affirming the truth",
said the Pope. This, he explained, was because "the truth
of love" always remained the bedrock of the cardinal's life.
While still in Colombia, he sought "to discover the significance
of genuine liberation in the area of theology" and later,
in Rome, he dedicated himself to "proclaiming and spreading
the gospel of life and the gospel of the family, as a collaborator
of the Holy Father".
"May the generosity of the lamented cardinal - which translated
into multiple works of charity, especially in support of children
in various parts of the globe - encourage us to use all our own
physical and spiritual resources for the Gospel, may it spur us
on to work in defence of human life, and help us to look constantly
to the goal of our earthly pilgrimage".
Source: VIS
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