Leading Pro-Life Catholic Cardinal Alfonso Lopez-Trujillo Passes Away
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
April 20, 2008
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — A Catholic Cardinal who was viewed as second only to Pope Benedict in leading the Catholic Church’s pro-life efforts passed away over the weekend. Cardinal Alfonso Lopez-Trujillo, the president of the Pontifical Council for the Family and a respected pro-life leader, died on Saturday.
Father Frank Pavone told LifeNews.com Lopez-Trujillo was one of the Church’s strongest advocates for the worth and dignity of human life.
"He knew and often said that the Church’s pro-life stance was not just a teaching, but a battle, and he willingly undertook the sacrifices of that battle in his own life," Father Pavone said.
Cardinal Lopez-Trujillo, of Colombia, died at the Pius XI private medical care facility and he was 72 at the time. He had been in the hospital for several weeks battling grave health issues.
Lopez Trujillo led efforts in Mexico in 2007 to stop the nation’s capital city from legalizing abortion. The Mexico City legislative assembly eventually legalized abortion and at least one woman has already died in addition to more than 6,000 unborn children.
Pavone said the cardinal was a key member of the Priests for Life board of bishops and asked Father Pavone to work at the Vatican.
“In the course of my day to day work with the Cardinal, he gave me the opportunity to share the vision of Priests for Life with bishops from around the world, and personally encouraged them to adopt our work," he said.
"In every meeting I had with the Cardinal, he was thinking of new ways to advance the Culture of Life," Pavone added.
"He felt very keenly the lack of sufficient time to develop and implement the ideas that flowed from his enthusiasm and creativity. Now’s the time for all of us to pick up where he left off," Pavone concluded.
