This is big: +Woelki to Cologne

by Michael Sean Winters

View Author Profile

Join the Conversation

Send your thoughts to Letters to the Editor. Learn more

Pope Francis has translated Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki from Berlin to Cologne. The latter archdiocese is one of the most important assignments in Germany in part because of the enormous financial resources of the archdiocese of Cologne, which have underwritten, along with US contributions, much of the Church's work in poorer countries. I do not know +Woelki but it is interesting to me that he is, by hierarchic standards, so young, a mere 58. This is an almost twenty year bet. Pope Francis has shown a willingness to appoint older men to key posts - Cardinal Stella, appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy last year, is already 73. Now, it is clear, if he discerns someone is right for the post, age will not disqualify if that person is perceived as either too young or too old. Also clear that in Berlin, +Woelki immediately took steps to reach out to that city's large gay community with an attitude of respect after some initial concerns were raised about previous comments he had made. I do not know how to say "smell of the sheep" in German, but let's hope he has it.  

Latest News

crucifix

Before the cross, we do not explain. We tremble.

At top, Sr. Ngan Nguyen, left, and Sr. Mung Nguyen, right, with children at Muong Cat Church in August 2024; at bottom,  construction of a girls’ dormitory by the Lovers of the Holy Cross is pictured March 10 in the Lac Son district of Hoa Binh province of Hanoi, Vietnam. (Top photo courtesy of Sr. Mung Nguyen; bottom photo by Mung Nguyen)

Lovers of the Holy Cross in Vietnam support ethnic Muong children's education

Preparations underway for making the Grosso family pesto recipe, which they traditionally serve on Good Friday (NCR photo/John Grosso)

NCR recipes for Lent: Pesto

Ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus in 2024, in modern-day Turkey (GSR photo/Gail DeGeorge)

Lasting lessons on life and death from a pilgrimage for the heart

Advertisement

1x per dayDaily Newsletters
1x per weekWeekly Newsletters
2x WeeklyBiweekly Newsletters
CAPTCHA
6 + 3 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.