Pope pays tribute to Cardinal Stickler

BY CINDY WOODEN
POPE BENEDICT XVI has said Cardinal Alfons Stickler, who died on December 12 at the age of 97, "knew well that to love Christ is to love the Church".
The Austrian, who was the world's oldest living cardinal, died in Rome. The cause of death was not announced.
Pope Benedict celebrated his funeral last Friday in St Peter's Basilica. In his homily the Pope quoted Cardinal Stickler as saying the Church is always holy "despite the weakness — sometimes scandalous — of us, its representatives and members in the past and present".
The Pope said the cardinal understood that only by having an absolute love for Christ could Christians today remain faithful despite the difficulties and challenges they face.
He knew "only a true love for Christ can make [Christians] courageous and persevere in defending the truth of the Catholic faith", the Pope said.
In a telegram of condolence to the cardinal's brother and three sisters the Pope spoke of the cardinal's "many years of sincere and industrious collaboration with the Holy See", particularly his years as prefect of the Vatican Library and the Vatican Secret Archives. He told the superior general of the Salesians, the religious order to which Cardinal Stickler belonged for 80 years, that, "with profound gratitude, I remember the gifts of tnind and heart" of the cardinal.