Abuse scandal: a bang in the Archdiocese of Cologne - Cardinal Woelki offers the Pope to resign
Created: 03/02/2022 11:37 am
By: Michelle Brey
Cardinal Woelki offered his resignation on Ash Wednesday.
© Andreas Arnold
It is considered controversial, and Cardinal Woelki is now offering the Pope, according to his own statements, his resignation as Archbishop of Cologne.
Cologne / Munich - The controversial Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki has, in his own words, offered the Pope his resignation as Archbishop of Cologne.
Pope Francis will decide on this in due course, the archdiocese said on Wednesday.
At the same time, the pope ordered that Woelki resume his service in Cologne as planned.
Archbishop Woelki will therefore continue to exercise his office for the time being.
Cardinal Woelke offers the Pope his resignation - and writes a letter to the faithful
"Over and over again in the past few months - praying and working - I have reflected and meditated on my actions and the situation in our archdiocese," explained Woelki in a letter to the faithful published at the same time on Ash Wednesday.
Regarding his offered resignation, the Pope is free to decide "what serves the good of the Church of Cologne the most".
In the meantime, Woelki asked the faithful to be patient and to "give him another chance".
After criticism of his communication in dealing with the abuse scandal in the largest German diocese, Woelki took time out in September, although he had been personally exonerated in a legal report.
During his absence, hope was raised that the cardinal might not return and that the situation would ease.