States, Cacciavillan recalled years later, he received a phone call in 1994 from a woman warning of a "media scandal" if Pope John Paul II's 1995 visit to the United States included Newark, New Jersey where Archbishop Theodore McCarrick was the subject of rumors about inappropriate behavior with seminarians. He said that he forwarded the information to Cardinal John O'Connor, Archbishop of New York, and did not contact the Vatican. He was instrumental in the promotion of McCarrick to the see of Washington in 1999 over O'Connor's objections. In a letter to Cardinal Re, who had asked him for advice on McCarrick at the request of Pope John Paul II, Cacciavillan argued that no enquiry should be made into these letters' claims because "Nothing new would be learned, and worse, a 'trial situation' could be created against Msgr. McCarrick, leaving the impression of great concern, which would have the effect of receiving answers in harmony with the expressed concern, rather than a de-dramatization, whereas a de-dramatization might perhaps be justified." Curia career On 5 November 1998, Pope John Paul II appointed Cacciavillan to a five-year term as President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APAS). He was created Cardinal-Deacon of Santi Angeli Custodi a Città Giardino in the consistory of 21 February 2001. He retired as President of the APAS when his resignation was accepted and he was replaced as president on 1 October 2002 by Attilio Nicora. Cacciavillan was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI. Cacciavillan, as the longest serving cardinal deacon, was Cardinal Protodeacon, the cardinal who makes the Habemus Papam announcement upon the conclusion of a papal conclave, from 1 March 2008, when Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos became a cardinal priest until 21 February 2011, when he became a cardinal priest himself. In the Roman Curia, he was a member of the Congregation for Bishops, Congregation for the Oriental Churches, Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts, Pontifical Commission for Latin America, and Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State. He lost these positions on reaching his 80th birthday. Cacciavillan died at his residence in Vatican City, in the early hours of the morning on 5 March 2022, at the age of 95. References External links 1926 births 2022 deaths