Cardinal Kasper confirms his imminent departure from Roman Curia

Cardinal Walter Kasper, the veteran president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, said that he has “come to the end of my service,” at a June 25 press conference.

The German cardinal, who has been the Vatican’s top ecumenical official since 2001, now 77 years old, two years beyond the normative retirement age.

Vatican journalists expect that his replacement will be named within the next few weeks; speculation has centered on Bishop Kurt Koch of Basel, Switzerland.

Describing his experiences in ecumenical work as “riveting,” Cardinal Kasper said: “Dialogue is life. Dialogue is an integral part of the life of the Church.”

SIC: CC