in 1998 of bone cancer in Rome. John Paul II presided over the funeral rites with 27 cardinals also in attendance. His remains were taken to Buenos Aires and after a Mass presided over by Cardinal Antonio Quarracino, his remains were buried in the left lateral altar of the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján. Process of canonisation The approval to commence the cause was granted on 24 March 2006 – which granted him the posthumous title Servant of God – and commenced in Rome on 23 June 2006. On 28 June 2006 Cardinal Camillo Ruini, Vicar for the Diocese of Rome, stated in an edict that "with the passing of years, his fame for sanctity has increased, and therefore it has been formally requested that we begin his cause of beatification and canonization". The Archdiocesan Tribunal of Buenos Aires initiated the Argentine phase of the beatification process on 22 February 2007 and it heard the testimonies of approximately thirty-three witnesses, bishops, priests, religious men and women, and lay people. The diocesan process shall conclude its work in Rome on 11 March 2016; this will result in all documentation being submitted to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints who will commence the "Roman Phase" of the cause. Pope Francis named Pironio as Venerable after confirming that the late cardinal lived a life of heroic virtue on 18 February 2022. The postulator assigned was the Benedictine Giuseppe Tamburrino while the vice-postulator appointed was Professor Beatriz Buzzetti. The miracle required for beatification was brought to the attention of officials of the cause and the formal diocesan process for the investigation of the miracle commenced in 2008; it concluded in August 2014. References Additional sources External links Catholic Hierarchy 1920 births 1998 deaths 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Argentina Argentine cardinals Cardinal-bishops of Sabina 20th-century Roman Catholic titular archbishops Argentine people of Italian descent Participants in the Second Vatican Council 20th-century venerated Christians Members of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life Pontifical Council for the Laity Cardinals created by Pope Paul VI Roman Catholic bishops of Mar del Plata Roman Catholic bishops of La Plata in Argentina Venerated Catholics by Pope Francis Bishops appointed by Pope Paul VI