Petition for Woelki's removal collects 55,000 signatures

Protest against Cardinal Woelki: An online petition is asking the Pope to remove the Archbishop of Cologne. This is because he has lost his credibility despite the investigations being closed.

German Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne delivers the homily as he celebrates Mass at the cathedral in Cologne Feb. 2, 2021. Clergy and staff of the Archdiocese of Cologne tried to browse pornography on work computers, Cardinal Woelki confirmed Aug. 17, 2023, after media reported a service provider found there were "mass attempts to access porn websites" from archdiocesan computers. (CNS photo/Harald Oppitz, KNA)...

A petition addressed to Pope Leo XIV calls for the deposition of Archbishop of Cologne Rainer Maria Woelki. The initiative was launched on 26 May by the Munich priest Wolfgang F. Rothe on the online platform change.org on 26 May; it has since attracted more than 55,000 supporters. The background to this is the public prosecutor's investigation against Cardinal Woelki, which was discontinued in return for a fine of 26,000 euros.