WASHINGTON, Oct 24 (AFP) - US Cardinal James Hickey, the former archbishop of Washington, died Sunday at the age of 84, the Archdiocese of Washington said in a statement.
Ordained as a priest in 1946, Hickey served the Roman Catholic Church as the rector of the Pontifical North American College in Rome and as bishop of Cleveland before Pope John Paul II appointed him as archbishop of Washington.
Hickey served as Rome's highest representative here for 20 years, from 1980 to 2000.
His funeral mass is scheduled for Saturday at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.
"Cardinal James Hickey was an inspirational spiritual leader who brought comfort to the sick and help and hope to those in need. He was a caring and compassionate man," President George W. Bush said in a statement.
"He will be deeply missed by his church, the Washington community, and all of the people throughout America whose lives he touched so deeply," Bush said.
"The death of Cardinal Hickey is (a) poignant loss for the Church of Washington and a personal loss for me," said Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Hickey's successor as archbishop of Washington, in a statement.
10/25/2004 03:25 GMT - AFP