THE HAGUE, Aug 2: The oldest cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church, Dutchman Johannes Willebrands, one of the chief architects of inter-church dialogue, died on Wednesday at the age of 96.

His death was announced in Utrecht, the most important archbishopric in the Netherlands, where he served as archbishop from 1976 to 1983.

In a tribute, Pope Benedict XVI called Willebrands an “ardent promoter of ecumenism” and “a tireless pastor (who) helped develop and intensify dialogue between all the Churches.”

Since 1960 he had been a member of what is today the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue, which he chaired between 1969 and 1989.

At that time he played an important role in fostering dialogue between the Vatican and the Orthodox, Anglican and Lutheran churches.

He was considered responsible for the documents of the second Vatican Council on non-Christian religions, which notably opened dialogue with the Jewish community.—AFP