The cardinal praised the way the community celebrates the traditional liturgy and encouraged the young people who find in it support for living their faith.
The statements were made during the faith festival «kommt&seht» («Come and See»), held in Cologne, where Woelki also referred to the growing interest of young people in the Chartres pilgrimage and to the fruits of various evangelization projects promoted in the archdiocese.
Recognition of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter
During a conversation with the newspaper Die Tagespost, the German cardinal expressed his gratitude to Father Bernhard Gerstle and to the priests of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter present in the archdiocese.
Woelki highlighted that they celebrate the Tridentine liturgy «in a good and responsible manner», a significant assessment in an ecclesial context in which the application of restrictions on the traditional Mass has generated tensions in numerous countries.
A message of support for the Chartres pilgrims
Asked about the notable growth of the Chartres pilgrimage, which in recent years has broken participation records and become one of the main references of traditional Catholicism in Europe, Woelki sent a message of encouragement to those who take part in it.
«Whoever finds there their spiritual home and gains the strength to live their faith and bear witness each day, should continue on their path», the cardinal stated.
In addition, he expressed satisfaction with the way Pope Leo XIV is addressing the issue of the traditional liturgy. Without going into details, the cardinal affirmed that Leo XIV has found an appropriate way to manage the question of the traditional liturgy.