{{short description|German Cardinal of the Catholic Church (born 1956)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Cardinal | honorific-prefix = [[His Eminence]] | name = Rainer Maria Woelki | honorific-suffix = | title = [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]]<br />[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cologne|Archbishop of Cologne]] | image = Rainer Maria Kardinal Woelki, Erzbischof von Köln (2019).jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Woelki in 2019 | church = [[Roman Catholic Church]] | archdiocese = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cologne|Cologne]] | province = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cologne|Cologne]] | appointed = 11 July 2014 | enthroned = 20 September 2014 | term_end = | predecessor = [[Joachim Meisner]] | opposed = | successor = | other_post = Cardinal-Priest of San Giovanni Maria Vianney (2012–) <!---------- Orders ----------> | ordination = 14 June 1985 | ordained_by = [[Joseph Höffner]] | consecration = 30 March 2003 | consecrated_by = [[Joachim Meisner]] | cardinal = 18 February 2012 | created_cardinal_by = [[Pope Benedict XVI]] | rank = [[Cardinal-Priest]] <!---------- Personal details ----------> | birth_name = Rainer Maria Woelki | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|08|18|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Köln-Mülheim]], [[Cologne]], [[North Rhine-Westphalia]], [[West Germany]] | death_date = | death_place = | buried = | nationality = German | religion = Roman Catholic | residence = | parents = | previous_post = {{unbulleted list|[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Berlin|Archbishop of Berlin]] (2011–2014)|Titular Bishop of Scampa (2003–2011)|Auxiliary Bishop of Cologne (2003–2011)}} | alma_mater = [[University of Bonn]] | motto = {{unbulleted list|''Nos sumus testes''|(We are witnesses)}} | signature = | signature_alt = | coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Rainer Maria Woelki (Cologne).svg | coat_of_arms_alt = <!---------- Sainthood ----------> | feast_day = | venerated = | saint_title = | beatified_date = | beatified_place = | beatified_by = | canonized_date = | canonized_place = | canonized_by = | attributes = | patronage = | shrine = | suppressed_date = <!---------- Other ----------> | other = }} {{Infobox cardinal styles | name = Rainer Woelki | dipstyle = [[His Eminence]] | image = Coat of arms of Rainer Maria Woelki (Cologne).svg | image_size = 200px | offstyle = [[His Eminence|Your Eminence]] | relstyle = Cardinal | deathstyle = [[n/a]] }} '''Rainer Maria Woelki''' ({{IPA|de|ˈʁaɪnɐ maˈʁiːa ˈvœlki}}; born 18 August 1956) is a [[Catholic Church in Germany|German Catholic]] prelate who has served as [[Archbishop of Cologne]] since 2014. This came following his election by the Cathedral Chapter to succeed [[Joachim Meisner]]. He previously served as [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Berlin|Archbishop of Berlin]]. He was made a [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]] in 2012.
==Earlier career== Woelki was born on 18 August 1956 in [[Cologne]], one of three children of parents who had been [[Evacuation of East Prussia|expelled from East Prussia]] at the end of the [[Second World War]]. He studied philosophy and theology at the Theological Faculties of the [[University of Bonn|universities of Bonn]] and [[Freiburg im Breisgau]].<ref name=ZENIT>[http://www.zenit.org/article-23380?l=german ZENIT (in German)]</ref> On 14 June 1985 [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] [[Joseph Höffner]] ordained him a priest for the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cologne|Archdiocese of Cologne]].<ref name="Catholic Hierarchy">{{Catholic-hierarchy|bishop|bwoel|Rainer Maria Cardinal Woelki|21 January 2015}}</ref>
From 1985 to 1989 he was assistant priest at St Mary's Parish in [[Neuss]]. In 1989, he served for a short time as [[military chaplain]] in Münster.<ref name="DieWelt"/> In 1990, he became private secretary to the Archbishop of Cologne.<ref name=ZENIT/>
From 1997 to 2011, he was Director of the "Collegium Albertinum", a residence for major seminarians of the archdiocese studying at the [[University of Bonn]].<ref>[http://incaelo.wordpress.com/2011/07/03/from-cologne-with-love-woelki-to-berlin/ In Caelo et in Terra: "From Cologne with love – Woelki to Berlin"] 3 July 2011</ref> In 1999, [[Pope John Paul II]] named him a [[Chaplain of His Holiness]], with the title of [[Monsignor]]. In 2000, he obtained a doctorate in theology, with a thesis on the ecclesiological role of the parish, from the [[Pontifical University of the Holy Cross]].<ref name=ZENIT/>
On 24 February 2003, he was appointed [[Titular Bishop]] of Scampa and [[Auxiliary Bishop]] of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cologne|Archdiocese of Cologne]] by Pope John Paul II. He was consecrated on 30 March 2003 by Cardinal [[Joachim Meisner]]. He chose as his episcopal motto "''Nos sumus testes''" ("We are witnesses"), from {{bibleverse||Acts|5:32}}.<ref name=ZENIT/>
As auxiliary bishop, he was given responsibility for the north of the archdiocese, including the cities of [[Düsseldorf]] and [[Wuppertal]],<ref name="DieWelt"/> and was [[episcopal vicar]] for the doctrine of the faith and ecumenism, as well as being in charge of the permanent diaconate.<ref name=ZENIT/>
Within the [[German Bishops' Conference]], he became a member of the Commission for Vocations and Ministries of the Church and for Science and Culture. He was also appointed a consultor of the [[Holy See]]'s [[Congregation for Catholic Education]].
==Archbishop of Berlin== On 2 July 2011, Pope Benedict XVI ratified Woelki's election by the [[cathedral chapter]] of Berlin and appointed him [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Berlin|Archbishop of Berlin]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.news.va/en/news/other-pontifical-acts-32 |title=Other Pontifical Acts, 2 July 2011 |access-date=5 July 2011 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129032959/http://www.news.va/en/news/other-pontifical-acts-32 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=ZENIT/> The announcement came just two days after the death of [[Georg Sterzinsky|Georg Cardinal Sterzinsky]], whose resignation from the governance of the see had been accepted in February 2011.<ref name="DieWelt">{{cite web|url=https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article13463515/Rainer-Woelki-ist-der-neue-Hauptstadt-Bischof.html |title=Rainer Woelki ist der neue Hauptstadt-Bischof |last=Facius |first=Gernot |date=2 July 2011 |publisher=WELT Online |language=de |access-date=2 July 2011}}</ref>
Woelki has been criticised by some German politicians for his language on homosexuality, which has led them to question his suitability for the post of archbishop in a city with a significant gay population. In an interview with the Catholic journalist George Schwikart, he described homosexuality as an offence against the "order of creation".<ref>[http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/27780.php?index=27780&lang=ge#NOMINA%20DELL%E2%80%99ARCIVESCOVO%20METROPOLITA%20DI%20BERLIN%20%28GERMANIA%29 ''Nomina dell'Arcivescovo Metropolita di Berlin (Germania)''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130220052918/http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/27780.php?index=27780&lang=ge#NOMINA%20DELL%E2%80%99ARCIVESCOVO%20METROPOLITA%20DI%20BERLIN%20%28GERMANIA%29 |date=20 February 2013 }}; in: Presseamt des Heiligen Stuhls: Tägliches Bulletin vom 2. Juli 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.zeit.de/politik/2011-07/bischof-woelki-kritik Neuer Erzbischof wegen Schwulen-Äußerung in der Kritik] in [[Die Zeit]], 04 Juli 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.rp-online.de/panorama/deutschland/Woelki-will-mit-Schwulen-und-Lesben-reden_aid_1012911.html RP-online, 5.7.2011]</ref>
After his appointment he said, "We will meet with each other" when asked about the city's active gay community. "I have respect and esteem for all people independent of heritage, skin colour and individual nature. I am open to all without reservations."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2011/07/05/daniel-in-lions-den-moment-for-new-catholic-archbishop-of-free-wheeling-berlin/ | title = Daniel-in-lion's-den moment for new Catholic archbishop of free-wheeling Berlin| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710084649/http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2011/07/05/daniel-in-lions-den-moment-for-new-catholic-archbishop-of-free-wheeling-berlin/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=10 July 2011 | work=Reuters| date=5 July 2011}}</ref> "The Church is not a moral institution that goes around pointing its finger at people," Woelki said. "The Church is for me a community of seekers and believers and the Church would like to help people find their happiness in life."{{citation needed|date=March 2022|reason=Direct quotes should have citations.}}
He was installed as archbishop of Berlin and took formal possession of his see on 27 August 2011. One of Woelki's first tasks was to prepare for the arrival of [[Pope Benedict XVI]] in Berlin in September 2011 on his first state visit to Germany, his third visit to his home country since he was elected as Pope in 2005.{{cn|date=August 2022}}
On 6 January 2012, the Vatican announced that Woelki would be created a cardinal on 18 February along with 21 others.<ref>[http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/28629.php?index=28629&lang=ge Annuncio di Concistorio per la creazione di nuovi Cardinali] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923000149/http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/28629.php?index=28629&lang=ge |date=23 September 2013 }} 6 January 2012</ref> He was created [[Cardinal-Priest]] of [[San Giovanni Maria Vianney]], becoming the youngest member of the [[College of Cardinals]], in succession to [[Reinhard Marx]] of Munich. However, within the same year the creation of [[Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal]] and [[Luis Antonio Tagle]] as cardinals in November 2012 made Woelki the third youngest cardinal.{{cn|date=August 2022}}
With his elevation, Woelki became eligible to vote in future [[papal conclave]]s and will remain eligible to participate in any that begin before his 80th birthday on 18 August 2036. He was appointed a member of the [[Congregation for Catholic Education]] in addition to his duties in Berlin.{{cn|date=August 2022}}
He participated as a [[Cardinal electors in Papal conclave, 2013|cardinal elector]] in the [[Papal conclave, 2013|2013 papal conclave]] that elected [[Pope Francis]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2013/03/12/0146/00364.html |title=Elenco dei Cardinali che entrano in Conclave secondo il loro rispettivo ordine e precedenza (Vescovi, Presbiteri, Diaconi) |date=12 March 2013 |website=[[Holy See Press Office|Sala Stampa della Santa Sede]] |language=it |trans-title=List of Cardinals entering into Conclave according to their respective order of precedence (Bishops, Priests, Deacons) |access-date=19 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503185432/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2013/03/12/0146/00364.html |archive-date=3 May 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[2025 papal conclave]] that elected [[Pope Leo XIV]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html| title=Cardinal Electors|date=6 May 2025|publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy.org|language=en|access-date=6 May 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506193115/https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html|archive-date=6 May 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
In a speech in June 2012 Woelki said "I believe we should agree and indeed we do agree on the fact that in judging this type of relation or relationship there is a big difference in judgement when people take responsibility for one another, when engaged in a long-term relationship as couples do in heterosexual relationships."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/world-news/detail/articolo/berlino-berlin-woelki-15776/ |title=Berlin's cardinal and same-sex couples – Vatican Insider |access-date=8 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609002811/http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/world-news/detail/articolo/berlino-berlin-woelki-15776/ |archive-date=9 June 2012 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.kath.net/detail.php?id=36623&print=yes German text]</ref>
In October 2012 Woelki was nominated for a Respect Award by the Alliance Against Homophobia. He was praised by the group for speaking out in favour of a "new cooperation with homosexuals in society" and officially meeting the Association for Gays and Lesbians for talks. This, the alliance said, had "broken the tension between his Church and gays and lesbians and had laid the foundations for further exchange and for a constructive dialogue". He declined the nomination.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.thetablet.co.uk/blogs/388/17| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121022095210/http://www.thetablet.co.uk/blogs/388/17| archive-date = 22 October 2012| title = The Tablet -}}</ref>
In December 2012 Woelki unveiled a reorganisation in a pastoral letter for Advent to 105 local parishes. Woelki said the archdiocese's finances had "stabilized and improved" thanks to "courageous and responsible decisions" and "great sacrifices" by church institutions. He added that the archdiocese was forecast to lose a further third of its membership by 2030, and he said Catholic schools, nurseries, hospitals, elderly homes and information centers would also be reorganised to reflect this shift.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://catholicphilly.com/2012/12/us-world-news/world-catholic-news/berlin-archdiocese-to-restructure-for-administrative-spiritual-reasons/|title=Berlin Archdiocese to restructure for administrative, spiritual reasons}}</ref>
==Archbishop of Cologne== On 11 July 2014 it was announced that Woelki would succeed Joachim Meisner as archbishop of Cologne.<ref>[http://www.erzbistumberlin.de/medien/pressestelle/aktuelle-pressemeldungen/pressemeldung/datum/2014/07/11/kardinal-woelki-zum-erzbischof-von-koeln-ernanntspanich-war-sehr-gerne-ihr-erzbischofspan/ Kardinal Woelki zum Erzbischof von Köln ernannt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924002116/http://www.erzbistumberlin.de/medien/pressestelle/aktuelle-pressemeldungen/pressemeldung/datum/2014/07/11/kardinal-woelki-zum-erzbischof-von-koeln-ernanntspanich-war-sehr-gerne-ihr-erzbischofspan/ |date=24 September 2015 }}.</ref> The announcement followed the completion of a complicated process that governs the determination of a new archbishop of Cologne and which requires several levels of ecclesiastical and civil review. Following Meisner's retirement, the archdiocesan [[cathedral chapter]], which consists of the leading priests of the archdiocese, composed a list of candidates, which was passed to the pope via the [[Apostolic Nuncio to Germany|papal nuncio in Berlin]]. {{cn|date=August 2022}} He was installed in Cologne on 20 September.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Strack|first1=Christoph|title=New Cologne archbishop Woelki stresses charity, reform|url=http://www.dw.de/new-cologne-archbishop-woelki-stresses-charity-reform/a-17937681|access-date=22 September 2014|work=Deutsche Welle|date=21 September 2014}}</ref>
The [[Holy See]] was entitled to amend the list of candidates before returning it to the cathedral chapter, which then elected from it the new archbishop. The ecclesiastical appointment had then to be further certified by the regional government in [[Düsseldorf]]. According to the terms of the [[concordat]] governing Catholic ecclesiastical affairs in the state of [[North Rhine-Westphalia]], the regional parliament must certify that the newly nominated archbishop poses "no concerns of a political nature".{{citation needed|date=September 2014}}
In October 2016 he was appointed a member of the [[Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments]] by Pope Francis for a five-year renewable term.{{cn|date=August 2022}}
In April 2018, Woelki led a group of seven bishops who appealed to the Vatican after Germany's bishops approved a proposal to allow Protestant spouses of Catholics to receive the [[Eucharist]]. The bishops argued that the German bishops did not have the authority to undertake such a measure.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2018/04/german-bishops-vatican-officials-to-meet-may-3-to-discuss-communion/ |title=German bishops, Vatican officials to meet May 3 to discuss Communion |last=Wooden |first=Cindy |date=30 April 2018 |publisher=Crux |access-date=9 July 2020}}</ref> The proposal to expand Holy Communion was rejected on 25 May by Cardinal-elect [[Luis Ladaria Ferrer]], Prefect of the [[Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]], who said that there were "a series of problems of considerable importance".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/38602/german-bishops-react-to-vatican-decision-on-communion-for-protestants |title=German bishops react to Vatican decision on Communion for Protestants |date=8 June 2018 |publisher=Catholic News Agency |access-date=13 April 2019}}</ref>
In a February 2019 interview, Woelki criticized ideas that Church teaching can be changed in order to more closely align with the modern world, saying, "The Church stands for truths that transcend time." He renounced calls to abolish clerical celibacy and to ordain women.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/german-cardinal-the-church-stands-for-truths-that-transcend-time |title=German Cardinal: 'The Church Stands for Truths That Transcend Time' |last=Rothweiler |first=Martin |date=20 February 2019 |publisher=National Catholic Register |access-date=9 July 2020}}</ref>
Woelki expressed his thoughts again in an article the following month, in which he argued: "The Church cannot be bullied into changing her doctrine if change contradicts the spirit of the gospel." He continued: {{blockquote|All those inside and outside the Church who so vehemently push for changes (liberalizing celibacy, reconsidering homosexuality, ordaining women, accepting sex outside of marriage) have not answered one question: Why are Protestant Christians in Germany not flourishing? They have implemented all that is being demanded. Yet they are not in a better position—seen by their practice of faith, how few they recruit for pastoral ministry, and the number of people leaving their churches. Does that not indicate that the real problems lie elsewhere, and that the whole of Christianity has to confront a crisis of faith and understanding, rather than adapt to a "new reality of life" that is presented as irresistible?<ref name="FT4102019">{{cite web |url=https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2019/04/looking-at-christ |title=Looking at Christ |last=Woelki |first=Rainier |date=10 April 2019 |website=First Things |access-date=13 April 2019}}</ref>}}
Woelki wrote that he was not promoting "unreflective traditionalism" or the practice of "[circling] the wagons", but rather "growth and revitalization".<ref name="FT4102019"/>
In 2023, Cardinal Woelki was one of four German bishops who voted against providing funding for the synod committee that is preparing to introduce a [[Synodal Way|permanent German synodal council]] to oversee the Church.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ncregister.com/cna/four-german-bishops-block-funding-for-permanent-synodal-council | title=Four German Bishops Block Funding for Permanent Synodal Council | date=20 June 2023 }}</ref>
== Handling of sexual child abuse cases == In 2011 a victim of child abuse was paid a large settlement based on the probable gravity of the case. In 2015 Woelki did not decide to reopen the case and notify Rome of it because of the "bad health of the priest" involved and because the "victim refused to offer testimony". According to Thomas Schüller, a professor for religious law but uninvolved in this case, the victim had credibly claimed that he wanted to testify. In December 2020, Schüller demanded Woelki resign for supposedly misrepresenting the victim's position.<ref>{{cite interview | publisher = Deutschlandfunk | language = de | url = https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/causa-woelki-kirchenrechtler-es-ist-ein-moralischer.694.de.html | title = Kirchenrechtler: "Es ist ein moralischer Tiefpunkt erreicht" | date = 16 December 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
Johannes-Wilhelm Rörig, appointed by the [[Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth]] to fight child abuse, made the criticism in 2020 that the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cologne]], led by Woelki, was the only one that was not making progress although Woelki was the first bishop in Germany who had ordered an investigation on how the people responsible in the archdiocese had handled cases of child abuse. The review of cases between 1975 and 2018 concluded then there had been more than 200 [[child sexual abuse]]rs in the archdiocese and more than 300 victims, most of whom were less than 14 years old.<ref name=Reuters2022-03-02/> Rörig criticised Woelki for ordering a second report on the handling of sexual abuse cases in the Archdiocese of Cologne but refusing to make the first public when it was finished.<ref>Tagesspiegel, [https://www.tagesspiegel.de/gesellschaft/panorama/verdacht-der-vertuschung-steht-im-raum-missbrauchsbeauftragter-kritisiert-koelner-kardinal-woelki-scharf/26651682.html Missbrauchsbeauftragter kritisiert Kölner Kardinal Woelki scharf], 23 November 2020</ref> The [[Central Committee of German Catholics]] demanded on 20 October 2020 that the report be made public.<ref>Zemntralkommitee der deutschen Katholiken, [https://www.zdk.de/veroeffentlichungen/erklaerungen/detail/Ursachen-erkennen-Verantwortung-uebernehmen-Konsequenzen-ziehen-264A/ Erklärung der Vollversammlung des Zentralkomitees der deutschen Katholiken ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207143015/https://www.zdk.de/veroeffentlichungen/erklaerungen/detail/Ursachen-erkennen-Verantwortung-uebernehmen-Konsequenzen-ziehen-264A/ |date=7 December 2020 }}, 20 October 2020</ref> The board of affected persons had agreed not to make the report public, but later on some of them claimed that they had been misinformed and that pressure had been put on them.<ref>Sueddeutsche Zeitung, [https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/erzbischof-woelki-untersuchung-betroffenenbeirat-1.5119662?reduced=true "Die Erkenntnisse müssen toxisch sein"], 18 November 2020</ref> Woelki justified his refusal to release the report by saying there had been problems in the methodology of its preparation, but did not specify what problems he was asserting had existed.<ref name=Reuters2022-03-02/>
Woelki commissioned a second report, which was made public in March 2021. The first one can only be looked into on demand and under conditions. Both reports did not find fault with Woelki, but led him to suspend some diocesan officials and prompted [[Stefan Heße|Stefan Hesse]], Archbishop of Hamburg, to offer his resignation because of actions he took while a senior official in Cologne.<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 13 October 2021 | url = https://cruxnow.com/church-in-europe/2021/03/german-archbishop-offers-to-resign-after-abuse-criticism/ | work = Crux | date = 18 March 2021 | title = German archbishop offers to resign after abuse criticism | agency = Associated Press | first1 = Kirsten | last1 = Grieshaber | first2= Daniel | last2= Niemann}}</ref>
On 23 March 2021, a week after the report's release, Woelki refused to resign, saying "Such a resignation would only be a short-lived symbol." and because the report didn't document any mistakes on his side. <ref>{{cite news |title=Cardinal Woelki refuses to resign following abuse report |url=https://www.irishcatholic.com/cardinal-woelki-refuses-to-resign-following-abuse-report/ |access-date=8 October 2021 |work=The Irish Catholic |date=1 April 2021}}</ref> When Cardinal [[Reinhard Marx]] offered his resignation in June 2021, citing the sex abuse scandals, his action was seen as a criticism of Woelki's refusal to resign.<ref>{{cite news |title=German archbishop offers to resign over Church's sexual abuse 'catastrophe' |url=https://www.euronews.com/2021/06/04/us-germany-catholic-marx |access-date=8 October 2021 |work=euronews |date=4 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref> After a review of the situation surrounding the reports, the Vatican concluded in June 2021 that Woelki had made "grave errors" regarding communication but said no evidence had been found that his actions were criminal under secular law.<ref name=Reuters2022-03-02/><ref name=NCRGrantsLeave/> In September Woelki met with [[Pope Francis]] and offered his resignation, which the pope declined to accept, instead granting his request for a six-month leave for spiritual reflection.<ref name=NCRGrantsLeave>{{cite news |title=Pope refuses resignation of German Cardinal Woelki, grants 6-month leave |url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/accountability/pope-refuses-resignation-german-cardinal-woelki-grants-6-month-leave |access-date=8 October 2021 |work=[[National Catholic Reporter]] |date=24 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
In June 2021, the archdiocese under Woelki dismissed its legal counsel for taking her office chair home at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Unwirksame Kündigung einer Justiziarin beim Erzbistum Köln |url=https://www.haufe.de/personal/arbeitsrecht/unwirksame-kuendigung-einer-justiziarin-beim-erzbistum-koeln_76_559696.html |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=Haufe.de News und Fachwissen |language=de}}</ref> The counsel had to work through the files on the cases of sexual child abuse by priests of the archdiocese for years.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Zeitung|first=Süddeutsche|title=Mitarbeiterin wegen Bürostuhl gekündigt – Gericht äußert Zweifel|url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/erzbistum-koeln-justiziarin-woekli-buerostuhl-1.5510096|access-date=20 January 2022|website=Süddeutsche.de|date=18 January 2022 |language=de}}</ref> The lawyer filed a lawsuit against the archdiocese and the [[Labor court|Cologne Labor Court]] (Arbeitsgericht Köln) agreed with her; the termination is ineffective.<ref>{{Cite web|last=dpa|title=Homeoffice in der Pandemie: Kündigung wegen Bürostuhl: Erzbistum Köln verliert Rechtsstreit |url=https://www.svz.de/deutschland-welt/panorama/kuendigung-wegen-buerostuhl-erzbistum-koeln-verliert-rechtsstreit-id34950412.html|access-date=20 January 2022|website=svz|date=19 January 2022 }}</ref>
On 2 March 2022, Woelki again offered his resignation to the Pope.<ref name=Reuters2022-03-02>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/cologne-archbishop-offers-resignation-over-abuse-scandals-2022-03-02/ |title=Cologne archbishop offers resignation over abuse scandals |work=[[Reuters]] |date=2 March 2022 |first1=Thomas |last1=Escritt |first2=Maria |last2=Sheahan |first3=Alison |last3=Williams}}</ref>
==Publications== *''Gott begleitet uns'', with Joachim Opahle (Verlag Herder, 2015) {{ISBN|978-3-451-33737-6}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{cite web| access-date = 6 December 2017| title= Woelki Card. Rainer Maria |publisher= [[Holy See Press Office]] | url= https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_woelki_rm.html | url-status=live | archive-date= 4 September 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170904064316/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_woelki_rm.html }}
{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef|before=[[Werner Thissen]]}} {{s-tul|title=Titular Bishop of Scampa|years=24 February 2003 – 2 July 2011}} {{s-aft|after=Anselm Umoren}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Georg Sterzinsky]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Berlin|Archbishop of Berlin]]|years=2 July 2011 – 11 July 2014}} {{s-aft|after=[[Heiner Koch]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-non|reason=Titular church established}} {{s-ttl|title=[[San Giovanni Maria Vianney, Rome|Cardinal-Priest of San Giovanni Maria Vianney]]|years=18 February 2012 –}} {{s-inc|rows=2}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Joachim Meisner]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cologne|Archbishop of Cologne]]|years=11 July 2014 –}} {{s-end}}
{{Cardinals created by Benedict XVI}} {{Cardinals of the Catholic Church|state=collapsed}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Woelki, Rainer}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1956 births]] [[Category:21st-century German cardinals]] [[Category:21st-century Roman Catholic archbishops in Germany]] [[Category:Cardinals created by Pope Benedict XVI]] [[Category:Archbishops of Cologne]] [[Category:Archbishops of Berlin]] [[Category:Pontifical University of the Holy Cross alumni]] [[Category:German military chaplains]] [[Category:Members of the Congregation for Catholic Education]] [[Category:Members of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments]] [[Category:Bishops appointed by Pope John Paul II]]