Papal Legate for the 350^th anniversary of Marian Sanctuary

(June 25.06.2011) Pope Benedict XVI has nominated Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich and Freising, as his special envoy to the celebration of the 350^th anniversary of the Marian Sanctuary of Werl, in the Archdiocese of Paderborn, Germany, which is due to be held on July 2^nd this year. It marks the precisely the anniversary of the transfer of the Statue of the Virgin to town. The papal letter of appointment is dated 17^th June 2011. Werl is a town located in the district of Soest in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It was a member of the Hanseatic League in the Middle Ages, The Hanseatic League was not so much a league of cities as it was a league of merchant associations within the cities of Northern Germany and the Baltic. Trade in the middle ages was a dangerous and risky business and the only way for merchants to protect themselves was by travelling together. This banding together of merchants on the road led to their alliances at home as well. Precisely this city of Werl has contained a statue of the Virgin Mary since 1661. Today this relic is located in the Wallfahrtsbasilika, and the Franciscan religious order takes care of it. Due to the Marian pilgrimage, Werl is the third largest pilgrimage destination in Germany.