Hamburg's Archbishop Heße offered the Pope his resignation - he was head of personnel in the Archdiocese of Cologne, which was affected by abuse cases.
Now the Vatican has decided.
Hamburg / Rome - Pope Francis has not accepted the resignation of Hamburg's Archbishop Stefan Heße.
He asked the clergyman to continue "his mission as Archbishop of Hamburg in a spirit of reconciliation and service to God".
This is what it says in a message from the Apostolic Nunciature in Berlin, which was published on Wednesday.
Archbishop Stefan Heße emphasized in a written statement: “The time-out granted to me has ended and, according to the will of the Pope, I am now again expressly taking responsibility as Archbishop of Hamburg.
I am well aware that it will not necessarily be easy to resume my service. "
Pope Francis holds on to the Archbishop of Hamburg - despite organizational "deficiencies" and "personal procedural errors"
The communication from Rome states: "After a thorough examination of the documents received, the Holy See found deficiencies in the organization and functioning of the Archbishop's General Vicariate as well as personal procedural errors Hesses for the period in question".
However, the investigation did not show that these were committed with the intention of covering up cases of sexual abuse.
In March, a long-awaited report was presented in Cologne.
It examined how diocesan officials dealt with allegations of sexual abuse of children by priests in the past.
Heße, former personnel manager and vicar general in the Archdiocese of Cologne, were accused of a total of eleven breaches of duty.
According to the experts, this involved, among other things, violations of the duty to report and provide information.
Vatican: Archbishop Heße himself offered Pope resignation - "part for the failure of the system"
On the same day, Heße offered the Pope his resignation "in order to avert damage to the office of Archbishop and the Archdiocese of Hamburg".
He stressed that he had never been involved in covering up allegations of abuse.
But he is still ready to do his part for the failure of the system.
Heße moved to Hamburg as Archbishop in 2015.
Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki from Cologne has long been criticized.
Francis has an investigation report on Woelki, a recall does not seem to be ruled out.
Woelki himself, however, wants to remain in office.
Elsewhere, the Archdiocese of Cologne recently took quick personnel steps.
Justiziarin Woelkis was given notice because she took her office chair home with her at the beginning of the corona pandemic.
She went to court because of it.
Francis had also rejected the resignation of the Archbishop of Munich and Freising, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, that year. Marx accepted this - but subsequently apologized publicly several times for errors *. (
dpa / fn
) *
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