Pope Leo sends condolences on the death of longtime Church diplomat and cardinal from Sicily

Pope Leo XIV sent a message of condolence Monday on the death of Cardinal Paolo Romeo, archbishop emeritus of Palermo, who died Oct. 25 in Catania, Sicily, at the age of 88.

The pontiff said the cardinal “served the Gospel and the Church generously,” and recalled “with gratitude his dedicated ministry, first as a priest of the Diocese of Acireale, then in the diplomatic service of the Holy See, especially as pontifical representative in Haiti, Colombia, Canada, Italy, and the Republic of San Marino, and finally as the devoted archbishop of Palermo.”

Romeo was born in Acireale, Sicily, on Feb. 20, 1938. After studying theology and canon law in Rome, he was ordained a priest in Acireale on March 18, 1961.

He later attended the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, entering the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1967 and working in the pontifical representations in the Philippines, Belgium and Luxembourg, to the European Communities, Venezuela, Rwanda, and Burundi.

In 1976, he was transferred to the Secretariat of State, where he was responsible for Latin America and the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM).

On Dec. 17, 1983, he was elected titular archbishop of Vulturia by St. Pope John Paul II and appointed apostolic nuncio to Haiti.

In 1990, he was transferred to the Apostolic Nunciature in Colombia, and in 1999 he was appointed head of the nunciature in Canada.

On April 17, 2001, he was appointed apostolic nuncio to Italy and the Republic of San Marino.

On Dec. 19, 2006, Benedict XVI appointed him metropolitan archbishop of Palermo. The same pope created him a cardinal of the Holy Roman Church in the consistory of Nov. 20, 2010, assigning him the titular church of Santa Maria Odigitria dei Siciliani.

In 2013, he participated in the conclave that elected Pope Francis.

Between 2013 and 2015, he also served as apostolic administrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi in Sicily.

On Oct. 27, 2015, he became archbishop emeritus of Palermo upon reaching the age limit for retirement.

The Diocese of Acireale announced that the cardinal’s mortal remains will lie in state beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, in the cathedral basilica, where a prayer vigil will be held at 8 p.m. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28, in the Acireale Cathedral.

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, EWTN News’ Italian-language sister service. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.