Status: 09/24/2021 11:40 a.m.
The controversial Cardinal Woelki from Cologne remains in office. This decision by Pope Francis was reported from church circles. However, Woelki is taking a break at his own request.
The Cologne Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki is allowed to remain in office as Archbishop of the largest German diocese. Pope Francis decided that, according to church circles. However, Woelki was taking a break from mid-October until the beginning of Lent at the beginning of March next year at his own request, it said. In addition, an administrator will be used for the archdiocese.
Crisis of confidence in Cologne
The diocese on the Rhine has been shaken by a crisis of confidence for over a year. Displeasure with the archbishop had grown after he canceled an opinion on how to deal with cases of sexual violence with reference to legal reasons. The impression grew that Woelki was trying to cover up something.
A second report, which shows church leaders 75 breaches of duty in dealing with cases of sexual violence, did not bring pacification. Woelki himself was legally exonerated. But this acquittal did not meet with acceptance. Rather, critics appealed to him, especially as a long-time confidante of the former Cologne Cardinal Joachim Meisner, to take moral responsibility for the system. Woelki refused to resign several times.
In mid-June, Pope Francis sent two envoys to Cologne to review the situation on the ground. This also involved the role of other leaders, such as Hamburg’s Archbishop Stefan Heße, who had offered to resign. Last week the Pope refused this request.