German Prelate Admits Error After Pope Francis Retains Him

German Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki acknowledged errors in his handling of a child abuse report in his archdiocese after Pope Francis ruled on Friday that he should remain in his post as archbishop of Cologne, Christoph Driessen reported for Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).

Photo Insert: German Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki

"Of course I made mistakes in dealing with it. I made mistakes with respect to communication and of course, I take responsibility for that," Woelki said in expressing regret and acknowledging that the case had led to a crisis of confidence in the archdiocese. Woelki is to take time out at his own request from mid-October until the start of Lent at the beginning of March.

Woelki said he had spoken to Francis in Rome last week. "During the conversation, the pope made clear to me that he is counting on me," he said. The pope had praised the decisiveness with which the scandal had been handled in the archdiocese.

"In the conversation with the Holy Father, I told him of a thought that had been ripening in me, that is that I would like to take a lengthy sabbatical to order the events of recent months," Woelki said. The pope had expressed his approval, he added.

Thomas Sternberg, president of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK), termed the pope's decision incomprehensible.

"The instrument of a sabbatical is not enough. It's completely unclear what will happen at the end of a sabbatical of this kind, and it is not enough to restore the confidence that has been lost," Sternberg said.

"In politics and in democratic structures, resignation can help in accepting responsibility and initiating change. The decision from Rome means that a renewal process of this kind, which is urgently needed, is blocked," he added.

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