Father Virginio Rotondi; Vatican Aide After War
CASTELGANDOLFO, Italy — Father Virginio Rotondi, a Jesuit who helped handle the Vatican’s postwar relations with the Italian political world and founded an international spiritual movement, died Friday. He was 78.
The cause of death was not disclosed.
The Jesuit priest, who wrote several books, hosted two radio shows and frequently contributed to newspapers and magazines, suffered a stroke about a year ago. He died at his residence near Pope John Paul II’s retreat outside Rome.
Born in the town of Vicovaro near Rome in 1912, Rotondi became a priest in 1942 and became a close adviser to Pope Pius XII, for whom he acted as a liaison with politicians during the early years of the Italian republic after World War II.
In 1950, he founded Oasis, which spread to 17 countries, including Poland, Brazil and Portugal.
For 19 years, he read the Bible and commented on its passages on a national radio program called “The Most Beautiful Book in the World.”
He was also a regular commentator on a radio show called “Listen, It’s Almost Evening,” with Rome’s chief rabbi, Elio Toaff.
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