Cardinal Noe, former archpriest of St. Peter's, dies at 89

Retired Italian Cardinal Virgilio Noe, a liturgist and former archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, died July 24 at the age of 89.

In a telegram to the cardinal's sister, Pope Benedict XVI highlighted Cardinal Noe's "many years as a diligent collaborator at the Holy See, particularly in the office of liturgical celebrations and as archpriest of the papal Basilica of St. Peter's, everywhere giving witness to a fervid priestly zeal and fidelity to the Gospel."

The Italian had spent more than 45 years in liturgical work, beginning a decade before the Second Vatican Council reformed the Mass.

He had served as secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments and was the master of liturgical ceremonies to Popes Paul VI and Blessed John Paul II.

Three days after Pope John Paul formally inducted him into the College of Cardinals in 1991, he named him the archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, papal vicar for Vatican City State and placed him in charge of the Fabbrica di San Pietro, the office responsible for the basilica's upkeep.

Two years before taking the reins as the master of ceremonies for papal liturgies in 1970, he was named to a commission charged with updating papal Masses in line with the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council.

For much of his time as pontifical master of ceremonies, he also doubled as undersecretary of the divine worship congregation. 

In 1982, Pope John Paul named him an archbishop and congregation secretary, a post he held until 1989.

The late cardinal was born March 30, 1922, in northern Italy, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Pavia in 1944 and taught church history and liturgy in diocesan seminaries. 

In 1964, he was named secretary of the Italian bishops' Liturgical Action Center and began organizing national liturgical weeks.

Five years later, he was named undersecretary of the divine worship congregation.

Cardinal Noe's death leaves the College of Cardinals with 195 members, of whom 114 are under the age of 80 and, therefore, eligible to vote in a conclave.

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