# Alfons Maria Stickler

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Austrian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church (1910–2007)

His Eminence Alfons Maria Stickler SDB Archivist & Librarian Emeritus of the Holy Roman Church See Volsinium (Titular) Predecessor Antonio Samorè Successor Antonio María Javierre Ortas Other posts Previously Pro-Archivist of the Holy Roman Church, Pro-Librarian of the Holy Roman Church Orders Ordination 27 March 1937 Consecration 8 September 1983 by Pope John Paul II Created cardinal 25 May 1985 by Pope John Paul II Personal details Born 23 August 1910 Neunkirchen, Austria-Hungary Died 12 December 2007(2007-12-12) (aged 97) Vatican City Buried Cemetery of the Salesian Community, Catacomb of Callixtus, Rome, Italy

Styles of Alfons Maria Stickler Reference style His Eminence Spoken style Your Eminence Informal style Cardinal See Volsinium (titular)

**Alfons Maria Stickler** [SDB](/source/Salesians_of_Don_Bosco) (23 August 1910 – 12 December 2007) was an Austrian [cardinal](/source/Cardinal_(Catholicism)) of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archivist and Librarian of the [Holy Roman Church](/source/Holy_Roman_Church) from 1985 to 1988. Stickler was elevated to the [cardinalate](/source/Cardinal_(Catholicism)) in 1985, and was the oldest member of the [College of Cardinals](/source/College_of_Cardinals). A [traditionalist](/source/Traditionalist_Catholic), he was a strong supporter of the [Tridentine Mass](/source/Tridentine_Mass) and [clerical celibacy](/source/Clerical_celibacy_(Catholic_Church)).

## Biography

Stickler was born in [Neunkirchen](/source/Neunkirchen%2C_Austria), near [Vienna](/source/Vienna), as the second of twelve children. He entered the [Salesians of Don Bosco](/source/Salesians_of_Don_Bosco) in a German [novitiate](/source/Novitiate), and made his profession on 15 August 1928. Thereafter, Stickler studied philosophy in Germany and then in Austria, [Turin](/source/Turin), and Rome. He studied [canon law](/source/Canon_law_(Catholic_Church)) at the [Pontifical Athenaeum of S. Apollinare](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pontifical_Athenaeum_of_S._Apollinare&action=edit&redlink=1) (from where he received his [doctorate](/source/Doctor_of_Canon_Law)) and the [Pontifical Lateran University](/source/Pontifical_Lateran_University), and was [ordained](/source/Holy_Orders) to the priesthood on 27 March 1937. (Stickler studied with [Stephan Kuttner](/source/Stephan_Kuttner), who lived to see his first pupil in the history of canon law become a cardinal.)

Stickler taught at the [Salesian Pontifical University](/source/Salesian_Pontifical_University) as Professor of Canon Law and Church Legal History for eight years. From 1958 to 1966 he served as [rector](/source/Rector_(academia)) of the University, having previously served as Dean of the Canon Law Faculty since 1953. Stickler participated as a *[peritus](/source/Peritus)*, or expert, at the [Second Vatican Council](/source/Second_Vatican_Council) (1962–1965), working as a member on the Commission for the Clergy, the Commission for the Liturgy, and (in his capacity as rector of the Salesian University) the commission directed by the [Congregation for Seminaries and Universities](/source/Congregation_for_Catholic_Education). From the close of the council until 1968, Stickler was president of the newly founded *[Institutum Altioris Latinitas](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Institutum_Altioris_Latinitas&action=edit&redlink=1)*.

On 8 September 1983, he was appointed [Titular Archbishop](/source/Titular_bishop) of *Volsinium*, Pro-Librarian of the Holy Roman Church, and Pro-Archivist of the Holy Roman Church. Stickler received his [episcopal consecration](/source/Bishop_(Catholic_Church)) on the following 1 November from [Pope John Paul II](/source/Pope_John_Paul_II) himself, with Archbishops [Eduardo Martínez Somalo](/source/Eduardo_Mart%C3%ADnez_Somalo) and [Rosalio José Castillo Lara](/source/Rosalio_Jos%C3%A9_Castillo_Lara) serving as [co-consecrators](/source/Consecrator), in the [Sistine Chapel](/source/Sistine_Chapel). He was created [Cardinal-Deacon](/source/Cardinal_(Catholicism)) of [San Giorgio in Velabro](/source/San_Giorgio_in_Velabro) by John Paul II in the [consistory](/source/Papal_consistory) of 25 May 1985, becoming full [Librarian](/source/Vatican_Library) and [Archivist](/source/Vatican_Apostolic_Archive) two days later, on 27 May.

Stickler reported that Karol Wojtyła, the future [Pope John Paul II](/source/Pope_John_Paul_II) had confided to him that during his time as a student at the *Pontificium Athenaeum Internationale Angelicum* (subsequently renamed the [Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas](/source/Pontifical_University_of_Saint_Thomas_Aquinas) and often known simply as the *Angelicum*) Wojtyła made a pilgrimage in 1947 to Pietrelcina to visit [Padre Pio](/source/Pio_of_Pietrelcina) who told Wojtyła that one day he would ascend to "the highest post in the Church."[1] Stickler added that Wojtyła believed that the prophecy was fulfilled when he became a cardinal.[2]

Stickler served as Librarian and Archivist until his resignation on 1 July 1988. During his tenure he promoted the construction of underground storage for the conservation and consultation of all the codices and printed books of the library. He chose to be raised to the rank of [Cardinal-Priest](/source/Cardinal_(Catholicism)) (with the same title) on 29 January 1996, after spending ten years as a Cardinal Deacon.

Upon the death of [Johannes Willebrands](/source/Johannes_Willebrands) on 1 August 2006, Stickler became the oldest living cardinal. In 2007, he celebrated the seventieth anniversary of his priestly ordination.

Stickler studied the history of canon law with [Stephan Kuttner](/source/Stephan_Kuttner) and published on that subject.

Stickler died on Wednesday, December 12, 2007, at 7.30 pm, in his private apartment at the Vatican City.

His funeral rite was presided by Pope Benedict XVI, took place on Friday December 14, in the altar of the chair of Saint Peter's Vatican Basilica.

He was buried in the cemetery of the Salesian community in the catacombs of San Callisto in Rome.

## Support for tradition

Stickler consistently defended the position that the [Tridentine Mass](/source/Tridentine_Mass) was never forbidden or suppressed. He believed that the [Mass of Paul VI](/source/Mass_of_Paul_VI) contradicted the true wishes of the Second Vatican Council,[3] and told the [Latin Mass Society of England and Wales](/source/Latin_Mass_Society_of_England_and_Wales) that its movement "has full legitimacy in the Church".[4]

On 20 May 1995, Stickler stated that in 1986 a commission of nine cardinals (Stickler, [Ratzinger (future Pope Benedict XVI)](/source/Pope_Benedict_XVI), [Mayer](/source/Paul_Augustin_Mayer), [Oddi](/source/Silvio_Oddi), [Casaroli](/source/Agostino_Casaroli), [Gantin](/source/Bernardin_Gantin), [Innocenti](/source/Antonio_Innocenti), [Palazzini](/source/Pietro_Palazzini), and [Tomko](/source/Jozef_Tomko)) appointed by Pope John Paul II unanimously gave a negative answer to the question "Did Pope Paul VI or any other competent authority legally forbid the widespread celebration of the Tridentine Mass in the present day?" and to the question "Can any bishop forbid any priest in good standing from celebrating the Tridentine Mass?" He said that eight of the nine were in favour of drawing up a general permission declaring that everyone could choose the old form of the Mass as well as the new.[5]

["The Case for Clerical Celibacy: Its Historical Development and Theological Foundations"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070928000738/http://www.ignatius.com/ViewProduct.aspx?SID=1&Product_ID=837&AFID=12&), written by Stickler, was published in 1995 by [Ignatius Press](/source/Ignatius_Press). It treats of the [theological](/source/Theology) reasons and [scriptural](/source/Bible) and [magisterial](/source/Magisterium) roots of [celibacy for Catholic priests](/source/Clerical_celibacy_(Catholic_Church)).

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-kwitny_1-0)** Kwitny, Jonathan (March 1997). [*Man of the Century: The Life and Times of Pope John Paul II*](https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780805026887/page/768). New York: Henry Holt and Company. pp. [768](https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780805026887/page/768). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8050-2688-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8050-2688-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-cnn_2-0)** [Zahn, Paula](/source/Paula_Zahn) (17 June 2002). ["Padre Pio Granted Sainthood"](http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0206/17/ltm.04.html). CNN. Retrieved 19 January 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** These Last Days Ministries, Inc. [Cardinal Alfons Stickler on the Changes in the Mass and Vatican II](http://www.tldm.org/news7/Stickler.htm) 1997

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Address by H.E. Cardinal Alfons Stickler, 20 June 1992"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070423211230/http://www.latin-mass-society.org/sticklms.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.latin-mass-society.org/sticklms.htm) on 23 April 2007. Retrieved 28 March 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["John Vennari: Traditional Mass Never Forbidden"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070923115916/http://www.cfnews.org/tridmass.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.cfnews.org/tridmass.htm) on 23 September 2007. Retrieved 28 March 2007.

## External links

- [Bio from Catholic-Hierarchy](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bstickler.html)

- [catholic-pages bio](https://archive.today/20130102223923/http://www.catholic-pages.com/hierarchy/cardinals_bio.asp?ref=72)

- [Papal letter 70 years priesthood of Cardinal Stickler](https://cathcon.blogspot.com/2007/12/cardinal-stickler-letter-from-pope.html)

- [Obituary of Cardinal Stickler](https://cathcon.blogspot.com/2007/12/cardinal-stickker-one-of-all-time-great.html)

Catholic Church titles Preceded by Antonio Samorè Archivist of the Holy Roman Church 8 September 1983 – 1 July 1988 Succeeded by Antonio María Javierre Ortas Records Preceded by Johannes Willebrands Oldest living Member of the Sacred College 1 August 2006 – 12 December 2007 Succeeded by Paul Augustin Mayer

v t e Cardinals created by John Paul II 1979 Casaroli Caprio Cé Righi-Lambertini Căn Civardi Corripio y Ahumada Asajiro Satowaki Etchegaray Ballestrero Ó Fiaich Carter Macharski Rubin Kung Pin-mei 1983 Khoraish Yago Sabattani Kuharić Casoria Lebrún Moratinos Bernardin Kitbunchu do Nascimento López Trujillo Danneels Williams Martini Lustiger Glemp Vaivods Meisner de Lubac 1985 Dadaglio Lourdusamy Arinze Fresno Innocenti Obando y Bravo Mayer Suquía Goicoechea Hamer Vidal Gulbinowicz Tzadua Tomko Lubachivsky Deskur Poupard Vachon Decourtray Castillo Lara Wetter Piovanelli Simonis Gagnon Stickler Law O'Connor Biffi Pavan 1988 Martínez Somalo Silvestrini Felici Grégoire Padiyara Freire Falcão Giordano dos Santos Canestri Javierre Ortas Pimenta Revollo Bravo Clancy Moreira Neves Hickey Szoka Paskai Tumi Groër Martin Hensbach Sladkevičius Margéot Wu 1991 Sodano Todea Laghi Cassidy Coffy Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi López Rodríguez Sanchez Noè Quarracino Angelini Mahony Posadas Ocampo Bevilacqua Saldarini Daly Ruini Korec Schwery Sterzinsky del Mestri Dezza 1994 Sfeir Vlk Poggi Shirayanagi Fagiolo Furno Oviedo Cavada Winning Suárez Rivera Ortega y Calamino Darmaatmadja Schotte Eyt Agustoni Wamala Keeler Vargas Alzamora Turcotte Carles Gordó Maida Puljić Razafindratandra Tụng Sandoval Íñiguez Echeverría Ruiz Świątek Tonini Koliqi Congar Grillmeier 1998 Medina Estévez Bovone Castrillón Hoyos Antonelli Stafford De Giorgi Fernandes de Araújo Rouco Varela Ambrozic Balland Tettamanzi Pengo Schönborn Rivera Carrera George Shan Kuo-hsi Kozłowiecki Cheli Colasuonno Monduzzi Jaworski Pujats 2001 Re Thuận Cacciavillan Sebastiani Grocholewski Saraiva Martins Sepe Mejía Daoud Pompedda Kasper Degenhardt González Zumárraga Dias Majella Agnelo Rubiano Sáenz McCarrick Connell Bačkis Errázuriz Ossa Terrazas Sandoval Napier Rodríguez Maradiaga Agré Billé Velasco Cipriani Thorne Álvarez Martínez Hummes Vithayathil Bergoglio Policarpo Poletto Murphy-O'Connor Egan Huzar Lehmann Ghattas Honoré Tucci Scheffczyk Dulles 2003 Tauran Martino Marchisano Herranz Casado Lozano Barragán Hamao Nicora Scola Okogie Panafieu Zubeir Wako Amigo Vallejo Rigali O'Brien Scheid Antonelli Bertone Turkson Toppo Pell Bozanić Mẫn Quezada Toruño Barbarin Erdő Ouellet Cottier Joos Špidlík Nagy Catholic Church portal

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Alfons Maria Stickler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfons_Maria_Stickler) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfons_Maria_Stickler?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.