The information company mentioned the cardinal had been hospitalized for pneumonia earlier within the month, after testing constructive for Covid-19. He had been unwell for a while.
In a telegram despatched to the cardinal’s sister on Saturday, Pope Francis expressed his condolences.
“I recall his diligent work alongside so a lot of my predecessors, who entrusted him with essential tasks within the Vatican diplomacy, as much as the fragile workplace of secretary of state,” Francis mentioned.
Sodano was a long-time Vatican presence, having served two popes as secretary of state and as dean of the Faculty of Cardinals. He remained influential even in retirement.
He repeatedly got here underneath stress throughout the years that adopted for downplaying sexual abuse or blocking investigations into the scandal.