PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Daily News
BY MORGAN ZALOT & PHILLIP LUCAS
Philadelphia Daily News
zalotm@phillynews.com 215-854-5928
CARDINAL ANTHONY Joseph Bevilacqua, 88, who led the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia for 15 turbulent years, died in his sleep last night in his residence at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, the Archdiocese confirmed early today.
Bevilacqua, who retired in 2003, had suffered from cancer and dementia in recent years. He died at 9:15 p.m., according to Donna Farrell, Archdiocese spokeswoman.
Bevilacqua, a native of Brooklyn, was appointed archbishop of Philadelphia by Pope John Paul II on Dec. 8, 1987.
As archbishop, Bevilacqua was noted for his strict devotion to the Catholic faith and his visits to the more than 300 parishes in the Archdiocese’s five counties. Under his tenure, Philadelphia native Mother Katherine Drexel became a saint in 2000.
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