Venezuelan Cardinal Rosalio Castillo Lara (85) died Tuesday after several weeks in hospital.

Monsignor Ovidio Pérez Morales told local news TV channel Globovisión that Cardinal Castillo Lara was hospitalized since last September 19 because of an acute pulmonary failure.

Pérez Morales said the decease caused great pain among the Venezuelan Catholic Church. He stressed that both his person and services to the Catholic Church were a reason for pride.

Pérez Morales added that Venezuelan bishops are meeting Tuesday in Caracas, explaining that the details on the funeral would be disclosed later over the day.

Pérez Morales forecast the Venezuelan people are to bid farewell to Castillo Lara with gratefulness.

He underscored that Cardinal Castillo Lara is to remain in Venezuelans' memory as a great bishop and as the Venezuelan who has occupied the highest positions in the world church.