Word has come down that Cardinal Avery Dulles, SJ, one of the great figures of the Catholic Church, certainly in the United States, died this morning in the Jesuit infirmary at Fordham.He was 90, and his generally good health had begun to fail of late. America's blog has the announcement. I wasalwaysas impressed with Father Dulles'characterand his faith as I was by what I knew of hiswork, in large part becausehe was also a convert--like me--but also unfailingly kind--which I am not.I will leave it to others who knew him well and who are far more expert in his theology to comment, or better still, towrite more eloquent and instructive posts.For now, requiescat in pace, and AMDG. UPDATE: America has also posted an archive of Dulles' articles in the magazine and an interview with him. Pope Benedict XVI made a special side trip during his April visit to the US to greet Dulles, whose health had begun to fail largely due to the effects of childhood polio.