Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki

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A woman kneels at a makeshift memorial of flowers and candles for the victims on Aug. 24, 2024, close to the scene where at least three people were killed and several injured when a man attacked them with a knife on Aug. 23, 2024, in Solingen, western Germany, during a festival to mark the city’s 650th anniversary.

Attack in Germany: Catholic, Jewish leaders weigh in on deadly terror before key elections

Aug 27, 2024

By AC Wimmer

Religious and political figures are embroiled in a debate about Europe’s hot-button issues: terrorism, mass migration, knife crime, and Islamist... Read more

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki faces mounting pressure from multiple fronts, including local media — and some clergy: In open defiance, several priests conducted an event blessing same-sex couples outside the iconic Cologne Cathedral Sept 21, 2023.

German bishops in tug of war over blessing same-sex unions

Sep 25, 2023

By AC Wimmer

Ahead of the bishops’ meeting several priests conducted an event blessing same-sex couples outside the iconic Cologne Cathedral. Read more

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki blesses the new studio of Catholic TV station EWTN.TV in Cologne, Germany, on Aug. 30, 2023.

Cardinal blesses new German EWTN studio, highlights role in new evangelization

Aug 31, 2023

By AC Wimmer

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne, Germany, on Aug. 30 emphasized the importance of the Catholic television network EWTN.TV. Read more

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne. Credit: www.ewtn.de.

German cardinal disappointed over staff’s attempts to access pornography 

Aug 21, 2023

By AC Wimmer

“I stand firmly with Pope Francis, who unequivocally condemns [pornography] and warns of its insidious dangers,” Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki... Read more

Birgit Mock, a vice president of the ZdK, on July 31, 2023, attacked Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne for admonishing a priest his statements against blessing same-sex unions.

German cardinal under fire for admonishing priest over same-sex blessings

Aug 1, 2023

By AC Wimmer

A German cardinal was publicly criticized by the powerful Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) on Monday. Read more

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne. Credit: www.ewtn.de.

German cardinal under investigation: Allegations of perjury prompt search of archdiocese

Jun 27, 2023

By AC Wimmer

The allegations revolve around the accusation that Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki may have provided false testimony about his awareness of... Read more

Bishop Georg Bätzing, chairman of the German bishops’ conference, meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican, June 24, 2021.

Pope Francis told Bishop Bätzing: We don’t need 2 Evangelical churches in Germany

Jun 14, 2022

By CNA Staff

The pope recalled his remark during a conversation with the editors of Jesuit journals. Read more

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne.

Vatican backs Cardinal Woelki over abuse study contracts

May 3, 2022

By CNA Staff

The embattled German cardinal welcomed what he said was the ‘good news from Rome.’ Read more

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki. Credit: Jochen Rolfes/Archdiocese of Cologne.

German Cardinal Woelki submits resignation to Pope Francis

Mar 2, 2022

By CNA Staff

The pope will decide on the Cologne archbishop’s resignation in due course. Read more

Cologne Cathedral in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Vatican delays external audit of contracts in Germany’s Cologne archdiocese

Jan 7, 2022

By CNA Staff

The review must wait until the return of Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki. Read more

Bishop Rolf Steinhäuser, apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Cologne, Germany.

Canon lawyers to review abuse study contracts in Germany’s troubled Cologne archdiocese

Dec 9, 2021

By CNA Staff

The contracts relate to a landmark report released in March. Read more

Cologne Cathedral in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Results of apostolic visitation of Germany’s Cologne archdiocese sent to Vatican

Aug 9, 2021

By CNA Staff

The pope is now expected to consider the report. Read more

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki.

Pope Francis orders apostolic visitation of Cardinal Woelki’s Cologne archdiocese

May 28, 2021

By CNA Staff

Apostolic visitors will evaluate “possible mistakes” by the cardinal and archdiocesan officials. Read more

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki. Credit: Jochen Rolfes/Archdiocese of Cologne.

German cardinal takes further action in wake of independent abuse report

Mar 26, 2021

A German cardinal has announced further action following the release of a long-awaited independent report on the handling of abuse... Read more

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne. Credit: www.ewtn.de.

‘We have finally established clarity’: an interview with Cardinal Woelki on the Gercke report

Mar 18, 2021

The full text of Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki’s interview with CNA Deutsch, following the publication of an independent report on... Read more

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki. Credit: Jochen Rolfes/Archdiocese of Cologne.

German cardinal facing calls to resign welcomes release of independent abuse report

Mar 18, 2021

A German cardinal facing calls to resign has welcomed the release of a long-awaited report on the handling of abuse... Read more

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki. Credit: Jochen Rolfes/Archdiocese of Cologne.

German cardinal says he will keep promise to publish abuse report

Feb 4, 2021

A German cardinal facing calls to resign confirmed on Thursday that he would release an eagerly awaited report on abuse... Read more

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne. Credit: www.ewtn.de.

Confidentiality dispute piles pressure on cardinal accused of mishandling abuse cases

Jan 8, 2021

German media have criticized the Archdiocese of Cologne for offering to provide a “background briefing” to journalists about an unpublished... Read more

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne.

German cardinal asks Pope Francis to review his handling of abuse case

Dec 11, 2020

A German cardinal announced Friday that he would ask Pope Francis to review his handling of a clerical abuse case.  Read more