Roman Catholic Cardinal. A native of Pieve Santo Stefano, Umberto Betti joined the Franciscan Order at an early age, beginning his novitiate year on July 23, 1937 through the province of San Francesco Stigmatizzato of Tuscany. Making his simple profession on August 2, 1938, he took his solemn bows on December 31, 1943 and was ordained priest on May 4, 1946. Professor of dogmatic theology in the Franciscan province of Tuscany between 1949 and 1963, he obtained a doctorate in the said subject in 1951 and underwent specialized studies at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium. Named professor of Ecclesiastical Questions at the Pontifical Lateran University in 1961, he served as consultor and expert of the Theological Preparatory Commission for the Second Vatican Council as well as theological advisor to Cardinal Ermenegildo Florit of Florence during the named Council. Collaborating in the writing of the Conciliar dogmatic constitutions "Dei Verbum" and "Lumen Gentium", he lectured fundamental and dogmatic theology at the Pontifical Antonian Athenaeum of Rome from July 1964 until September 27, 1991, occupying the posts of dean of the faculty of theology from 1966 to 1969 and rector magnifico from 1975 till 1978. Qualificator of the Congregation of the Holy Office, consultor of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and state consultor, Betti went on to serve as rector magnifico of the Pontifical Lateran University of Rome between 1991 and 1995. In 1995, Pope John Paul II awarded him the cross "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice". Academic ordinary of the Pontifical Roman Theological Academy, member of the "Faith and Constitution" Commission of the World Council of Churches and academician emeritus of the Pontifical Roman Academy of Theology, he was awarded the Fiorino d'Oro at the Salone de'Dugento of Florence as personal theologian of the late Cardinal Ermenegildo Florit, Archbishop of Florence. Residing in the provincial San Francesco house of rest in the hill of Fiesole, Betti authored several important books including "Summa de Sacramentis Totus Homo" (1955); "La Costituzione Dommatica Pastor Aeternus" del Concilio Vaticano II (1961); "La Dottrina sull'Episcopato del Concilio Vaticano II" (1984); and "La Dottrina del Concilio Vaticano II sulla trasmissione della Rivelazione" (1985). At eighty five years of age, he was created cardinal deacon in the consistory of November 24, 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI with the deaconry of Ss. Vito, Modesto e Crescenzia. In view of his age, he requested to be dispensed from the required episcopal consecration, which dispensation was granted by the Pontiff. The Cardinal died on Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at 20.30 pm., at the infirmary of the Franciscan province of Tuscany in the convent of San Francesco in Fiesole, near Florence aged 87. Solemn funeral mass, presided by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for Bishops, was celebrated on Friday, April 3, at 4 pm., in the cathedral of Fiesole. Burial followed at the cemetery of the Order in the Franciscan Shrine of La Verna, on Saturday, April 4, after the celebration of another requiem mass, presided by Cardinal Cláudio Hummes OFM., prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy.