VATICAN CITY - Cardinal Lucas Moreira Neves of Brazil, a top Vatican official once considered a possible successor to Pope John Paul II, has died, the Vatican said Monday. He was 76.
Neves was archbishop of Sao Salvador da Bahia for 11 years until called to the Vatican in 1998, when John Paul made him prefect of the influential Congregation of Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
He stepped down from both positions in 2000 because of his failing health. Vatican officials confirmed his death Sunday at a Rome clinic, where he had been hospitalized for a long-term illness.
In a lengthy profile on Neves on Monday, the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano described the cardinal as a "missionary heart ready to serve the Church and those in the world who needed help and solidarity."
At one time, Neves had been considered to be "papabile" — a possible successor to the pope. He was a top churchman in the world's largest Catholic country and was considered to be a moderate in a sharply divided clergy.
However, his ill health in more recent years made him less of a factor, although he still had been among those cardinals under age 80 who could have voted for a new pope.
The pope was to preside over a special service Wednesday — Sept. 11 — at the Vatican to honor the cardinal, making a special trip into Rome from his summer retreat in the hills south of the city.
In a condolence telegram sent to the cardinal's sister, Judith Moreira Neves, John Paul said he was "deeply saddened" by his death and said he was praying that God "abundantly rewards his loyal servant."
Neves was born Sept. 16, 1925 in Sao Joao del Rei, the first of 10 children. He entered the Dominican order and was ordained a priest in 1950.
John Paul promoted him to archbishop in 1979 and cardinal in 1988.