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Rainer Maria Woelki in June 2021
Photo: TOBIAS SCHWARZ / AFP
In the Archdiocese of Cologne there are increasing signs of a return of Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki after his break. On March 2nd - Ash Wednesday - according to the current plan, he should hold a mass in the cathedral, confirmed the archbishopric. On the traditional "Ash Wednesday of Artists" he will give the ash cross and then invite you to a reception in the archbishop's house, as the invitation shows. The "Kölnische Rundschau" had previously reported.
Woelki, who is controversial in the archbishopric, is currently on a "spiritual break", which should last until the beginning of March. Pope Francis had attested to his mistakes, but defended him against the accusation that he had covered up deficits in the processing of cases of sexual abuse by priests.
During his time off, Woelki continues to receive his full monthly salary of almost 13,800 euros.
"A spiritual break is not a vacation," the Archdiocese announced in October on request.
"The archbishop is still in office." Thus he receives his full salary according to the civil servant grade B10, which corresponds to the salary of a mayor.
Speculation about Woelki's return
There was and is much speculation about the question of whether he will really return to Cologne as Archbishop after his break.
Woelki's representative at the head of the archbishopric, Auxiliary Bishop Rolf Steinhauser, had said at the end of November that he thought Woelki's future was open and that he was facing a "probationary period."
But in the past week there was further evidence that speaks for a return of the cardinal: The Vatican had informed Steinhäuser that an external examination of controversial contracts in the archbishopric should only begin after Woelki's return.
The investigation should "only be carried out when the archbishop has resumed his official duties on March 2, 2022," it said in the letter.
bam / dpa