Cardinal Pio Laghi, who served as the Vatican’s representative to the United States from 1980-1990, died Jan. 10 at the age of 86.

This Catholic News Service article profiles Cardinal Laghi’s life of service to the Church, which concluded with his term from 1990-1999 as prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education.

Cardinal Laghi was delegated by Pope John Paul II to speak with President George W. Bush before the Iraq war began in March 2003 to counsel against American military intervention in Iraq.

Speaking by webcam from his Vatican apartment shortly before Christmas last month, Cardinal Laghi “again expressed his deep disappointment that Bush did not heed Pope John Paul II’s warnings about the possible consequences of the war in Iraq,” CNS reported. “Those possibilities, the cardinal said, have now become realities: a drawn-out war, massive casualties, new tensions among Iraqi religious and ethnic groups, and greater Muslim hostility toward Christians.”

Here is the text of the statement President Bush released yesterday regarding Cardinal Laghi’s death:

“Laura and I send our deepest condolences to Pope Benedict XVI and all Catholics on the passing of Cardinal Pio Laghi.  Cardinal Laghi was a friend who, in his more than 60 years of service to the Catholic Church, worked tirelessly for peace and justice in our world.  As the Papal Nuncio to the United States during the final years of the Cold War, and in his many other assignments, Cardinal Laghi always strove to unite people of all religions and promote reconciliation, religious freedom, and tolerance.  Cardinal Laghi holds an especially important place in the hearts of the American people, having served as the first Papal Nuncio to the United States, following the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and the Holy See in 1984.

“On behalf of all Americans, Laura and I join Catholics around the world to offer our gratitude for the courageous service and life of Cardinal Laghi, and commit ourselves to carrying his peaceful message forward.”

— Tom McFeely