Cardinal Schonborn Meets with Pope to Clarify Declarations
(28 Jun 10 – RV) The Holy See Press Office released the following communiqué early
this afternoon:
"(1) The Holy Father today received in audience Cardinal Christoph
Schonborn O.P., Archbishop of Vienna and president of the Austrian Episcopal Conference.
The cardinal had asked to meet the Pope personally in order to report on the current
situation of the Church in Austria. In particular, Cardinal Schonborn wished to clarify
the exact meaning of his recent declarations concerning some aspects of current ecclesiastical
discipline, and certain of his judgements regarding positions adopted by the Secretariat
of State - and in particular by the then Secretary of State of Pope John Paul II -
concerning the late Cardinal Hans Hermann Groer, archbishop of Vienna from 1986 to
1995.
"(2) Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, and Cardinal
Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. were subsequently invited to join the meeting.
"In
the second part of the audience certain widespread misunderstandings were clarified
and resolved, misunderstandings deriving partly from certain statements of Cardinal
Christoph Schonborn, who expressed his displeasure at the interpretations given to
his words.
"In particular:
"(a) It must be reiterated that, in the Church,
when accusations are made against a cardinal, competency falls exclusively to the
Pope; other parties may have a consultative function, while always maintaining due
respect for persons.
"(b) The word 'chiacchiericcio' (gossip) was erroneously
interpreted as disrespectful to the victims of sexual abuse, towards whom Cardinal
Angelo Sodano nourishes the same feelings of compassion, and of condemnation of evil,
as expressed on various occasions by the Holy Father. That word, pronounced during
his Easter address to Pope Benedict XVI, was taken literally from the pontifical homily
of Palm Sunday and referred to the "courage that does not let itself be intimidated
by the gossip of prevalent opinions".
"(3) The Holy Father, recalling with
great affection his own pastoral trip to Austria, via Cardinal Christoph Schonborn
sends his greetings and encouragement to the Church in Austria, and to her pastors,
entrusting the journey to renewed ecclesial communion to the celestial protection
of the Blessed Virgin, so venerated at Mariazell".