Cardinal Ambrozic, RIP

Cardinal Ambrozic, RIP

Founder, CCBI

Pontiff Mourns Cardinal Ambrozic

VATICAN CITY, AUG. 28, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is mourning the death of Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic, who died Friday at the age of 81.

The cardinal was a native of Slovenia, but emigrated to Canada in 1948.

A papal note, sent to Archbishop Thomas Collins of Toronto, expressed the Pope’s condolences to the cardinal’s family and the archdiocese.

I recall with gratitude the cardinal’s dedication and service to the Church in his adopted country, the Holy Father said. He assured his prayers, commending [the cardinal’s] noble soul to the infinite mercy of God our loving Father.

Aloysius Ambrozic was born in Gaberje, Slovenia, the second of the seven children. In May 1945, the entire family fled to Austria, where they lived in refugee camps. While in these camps, he completed his high school education.

In September 1948, the family emigrated to Canada and settled near Toronto. Shortly afterward, he entered the seminary and was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Toronto on June 4, 1955.

In 1976, he was named auxiliary bishop of Toronto, becoming the coadjutor of the archdiocese a decade later. In 1990, he became the archbishop and in 1998, was made a cardinal. He retired in 2006.

With his death, there are 194 cardinals, 114 of whom are electors.