Buenos Aires: Cardinal Luis Pascual Dri, the humble Capuchin friar who inspired Pope Francis and became a global symbol of mercy through his lifelong dedication to the confessional, passed away on June 30 at the age of 98. His funeral will be held on Wednesday, July 2, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii, where he had lived a quiet life of retirement and prayer since 2007.
Known affectionately as the "Teacher of Mercy" by the Pope himself, Cardinal Dri was revered for his deep compassion, unwavering humility, and decades of spiritual guidance. Pope Francis, who elevated him to the College of Cardinals during the 2023 Consistory, once affectionately quoted Dri’s confession to Jesus after long hours of listening to penitents: “Lord, forgive me for forgiving too much but You gave me the example!”
Born on April 17, 1927, in Federación, Argentina, Luis Dri entered the Capuchin order in 1945 and hailed from a profoundly religious family eight of his nine siblings also pursued vocations in the Church. Throughout his ministry, he was shaped by the spirituality of saints like Padre Pio and Saint Leopold Mandić, embracing a life of missionary zeal, simplicity, and compassion.
Health reasons prevented him from traveling to Rome for the 2023 Consistory, but he was conferred the cardinal’s insignian the biretta and ring during a special ceremony in Buenos Aires. He was named Cardinal-Deacon of Sant’Angelo in Pescheria, a title he humbly accepted, describing it not as a personal accolade, but a “gesture of tenderness” from the Holy Father.
Even after becoming a cardinal, Dri continued his daily practice of sitting for long hours in the confessional and praying before the Tabernacle. “I am just as much a sinner as those who come to me,” he would often say, reminding others that true pastoral care begins with humility and empathy.
His dedication to forgiveness and kindness left a profound impact on Pope Francis, who cited Dri frequently in writings and speeches. The pontiff included reflections on him in his 2014 book The Name of God is Mercy, and even gifted a biography titled Don’t Be Afraid to Forgive to priests in Rome in 2017, encouraging them to model Dri’s spirit of mercy.
Cardinal Dri’s path was marked not by academic accolades or public recognition, but by deep personal wisdom earned through lived experience. “I have no degrees, no titles,” he once said, “but life has taught me much. Having been born very poor, I always feel drawn to offer a word of mercy, of help, of closeness. No one should ever leave feeling ignored or unwelcome.”
As the Church mourns the loss of this gentle shepherd, his legacy endures in every soul he consoled, every heart he healed, and every priest he inspired to be a vessel of mercy. Pope Francis may have spoken of him often, but it was the quiet example of Cardinal Luis Dri that spoke loudest.