Italian Cardinal Attilio Nicora, who died on April 22 at the age of 80, served the Vatican and the Catholic Church in Italy with his "unique expertise," attention to detail and farsighted vision, Pope Francis said.
The cardinal, who earned a civil law degree before entering the seminary and a doctorate in canon law afterwards, was the former president of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See and former president of the Vatican Financial Intelligence Authority.
In a message sent on April 23 to the cardinal's family, Pope Francis said he would be remembered with "esteem and recognition for the precious service he offered with unique expertise to the Church and Italian civil society."
