VATICAN CITY, OCT. 17, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI included Argentine Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, 63, prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, among the 23 future cardinals.
Archbishop Sandri gave the world the news of the death of Pope John Paul II on the evening of April 2, 2005, in St. Peter's Square. During the Pontiff's illness, the archbishop normally read the texts that the Holy Father could not personally deliver.
Benedict XVI announced the names of 23 new cardinals today after the weekly general audience. The consistory, the second of the Pope's pontificate, will be held Nov. 24, the eve of the solemnity of Christ the King.
Leonardo Sandri was born in Buenos Aires on Nov. 18, 1943, into a family of Italian origin.
He was ordained a priest in 1967. He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1974 and served in Madagascar, and from 1977 to 1989 with the Vatican Secretariat of State.
From 1989 to 1991 he was an adviser in the office of the papal nuncio to the United States and the Organization of American States.
On Aug. 22, 1991, he was named prefect of the Pontifical Household. He was made the assessor for general affairs for the Secretariat of State in 1992.
He was named papal nuncio to Venezuela in 1997, and ordained archbishop that same year.
In 2000 he was named papal nuncio to Mexico, but later that year was called back to Rome to serve as undersecretary of state for general affairs. He was named prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches in June.
ZE07101710 - 2007-10-17