Cardinal Julien Ries from Belgium, who was 92, has passed away yesterday, on Saturday, 23 February 2013. He was elevated to the Cardinalate as a Cardinal non-elector at the consistory of 18 February 2012 last year with 22 other cardinals, and was the first one to pass away among them. He was made the Cardinal Deacon of S. Antonio di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia.

Let us pray for the Cardinal, that God will welcome him home, and open the doors of heaven for him, after his long and tireless work in the spread of the Gospel and in bringing mankind closer to God. Requiescat in Pace, Your Eminence.

College of Cardinals now stand at 208. Cardinal Electors remain at 118, and Cardinal non-Electors at 90.