May 26, 2016: Cardinal Loris Capovilla, Secretary to St. John XXIII, Dies on the Feast of Corpus Christi*

The Papal Artifacts’ Collection is primarily dedicated to artifacts connected to the papacy.  Individual popes, their biographies and multiple items belonging to them, including first and second class relics, make up the majority of this Collection.  But that isn’t all it is.

Father Kunst has a deep devotion to the saints as can be readily seen in viewing the Saints & Blesseds section of this site. We invite you to visit Papal History/Saints & Blesseds to view the many canonized and beatified men and women who make up this section of the Collection.

Another category is also included with this Collection: Notable Individuals.  These are people significantly associated with the Catholic Church who have not been canonized but contributed in outstanding ways to the church.

Cardinal Loris Capovilla is one of them.

Notable Individuals

The items presented here are first &  second class relics of Saint John XXIII.  The first class relic presented here is actually the flesh of  Pope Saint John XXIII.  Father Kunst was able to obtain this very precious relic from the Vatican.  His flesh is contained in this gold reliquary.  

The certificate of authenticity is dated July 1, 2015.  It states that Cardinal Angelo Comastri attests to the validity of the relic and that it is to be used only for pious devotional purposes.

The second relic is a white swathe of cloth from his papacy, suggesting it is an article of clothing worn by the Pope.  It is a second class relic.

His secretary, Cardinal Loris Francesco Capovilla, attests to the authenticity of this item and adds his signature to the document.

A wax seal is also part of the authenticity of this item.

About Cardianl Capovilla

Loris Francesco Capovilla,  was one of the oldest Roman Catholic bishops, and, since his elevation in February 2014, the oldest member of the College of Cardinals, died today, May 26th, on the Feast of Corpus Christi.

Capovilla was born October 14, 1915, in Pontelongo and was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Venice on May 23, 1940, by Cardinal Piazza, Patriarch of Venice. He formed a close friendship with Cardinal Roncalli (later Pope John XXIII) when the cardinal was the Patriarch of Venice. He claims, however, to have never called himself Roncalli’s friend, but considered him his bishop, his father, and his patriarch. He remained at Roncalli’s side as papal secretary after Roncalli’s election to the papacy in 1958 until his death in 1963.

Capovilla was appointed bishop of the Archdiocese of Chieti-Vasto on June 26, 1967, and consecrated on July 16, 1967, by Pope Paul VI. He chose as his motto, Obedience and Peace, the one used by Pope John XXIII. On September 23, 1971, he was appointed prelate to the Loreto Prelature and the Titular archbishop of Mesembria. His resignation from his position in Loreto was accepted on December 10, 1988.

On January 12, 2014, Pope Francis announced that Capovilla would be elevated to the College of Cardinals on February 22, 2014. Capovilla said it was a “sign of attention to all those thousands of priests around the world who have spent their lives in silence, in poverty, in obedience, happy to serve God and our humble people, who need, as Pope Francis continually says, tenderness, friendship, respect and love.”

Capovilla received a dispensation and did not attend the consistory where he was named cardinal. He said: “I’m not strong enough and I feel uncomfortable at the thought of meeting so many people.” He was named Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria in Trastevere. Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, bestowed the biretta and cardinal’s ring upon Capovilla on March 1.

In 1964, he published a memoir, The Heart and Mind of John XXIII: His Secretary’s Intimate Recollection (published by Hawthorn Books). As of 2013, he lives in Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII, about 25 miles northeast of Milan.

Requiescat in pace, Cardinal Capovilla.

*Note: In most parts of the world, excluding the United States, the solemn feast of Corpus Christi is celebrated on May 26th.