Japanese Cardinal Hamao dead at 77

Stephen Fumio Cardinal Hamao †

Function: President of Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, Roman Curia

Title: Cardinal Deacon of St. John Bosco in Via Tuscolana

Birthdate: Mar 09, 1930	Country: Japan

Elevated: Oct 21, 2003	More information: www.catholic-hierarchy.org

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Japanese Cardinal Hamao dead at 77
Nov 09, 2007
Cardinal Stephen Fumio Hamao, the former president of the Pontifical Council for Migrants, died in Tokyo on November 8 at the age of 77.

Tokyo, Nov. 9, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Stephen Fumio Hamao, the former president of the Pontifical Council for Migrants, died in Tokyo on November 8 at the age of 77.

Cardinal Hamao, who had resigned his Vatican post in March 2006, was a cancer victim. Appointed an auxiliary bishop of Tokyo in 1970, he had been named Bishop of Yokohama in 1979. After serving as president of the Japanese bishops' conference he was called to Rome in 1998 to become president of the Pontifical Council for Migrants. He was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope John Paul II (bio - news) in 2003.

In a message of condolence, Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) praised the Japanese prelate for his "devoted witness to the Gospel, his lively concern for the poor, and his generous service to the universal Church."

Cardinal Hamao had been one of two cardinals from Japan; he is survived by Cardinal Peter Shirayanagi, the former Archbishop of Tokyo, who will be 80 on November 26. Shortly after resigning his Vatican post, Cardinal Hamao had said that the Vatican has "great difficulties understanding" the Christians of Asia, and should make a greater effort to adapt Church teachings to the Asian cultural context.

With the death of Cardinal Hamao there are now 178 living cardinals, of whom 103 are under the age of 80 and thus eligible to participate in a papal election. At a consistory scheduled for November 23, Pope Benedict will elevate 23 new cardinals, of whom 18 will be cardinal-electors.

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