Sodano was linked to several controversies in recent years, but he enjoyed great influence over the Catholic Church during the two popes in the 90s and early millennium.
Pope Francis praised “this reputable man of the church, who fulfilled his priesthood with generosity” in service of the papacy, “said a telegram to Sodano’s family.
He died in Rome on Friday, where he had been hospitalized since May 9 after receiving covid-19, according to Vatican News. He is buried on Tuesday in St. Peter’s Church with, among others, the pope present.
Sodano became the second man in a row when Johannes Paul appointed him Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1991. Sodano joined him on around 50 trips abroad. After Benedict XVI became the new pope in 2005, Sodano remained in the role until September 2006.
He was then appointed head of the College of Cardinals, where he remained after the pope resigned in 2013.
Sodano resigned in 2019 after being criticized for supporting priests accused of wrongdoing. He was also accused, among other things, of cultivating ties with the Chilean dictator, General Augusto Pinochet, when he lived in Chile.
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