2 December 1995
Congratulations Bishop Cordes
The Holy Father has appointed His Excellency Msgr. Paul Joseph Cordes president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, raising him at the same time to the dignity of Archbishop.
Pope Paul VI founded Cor Unum (“One Heart”) in 1971 to help him to respond to the duty of universal charity. Its mission is the development of the whole people of God to the authentic meaning of charity (John Paul II). It advances and coordinates the energies and undertakings of all the Catholic organizations engaged in “effective aid for resolving the difficulties which today oppress them” (Paul VI).
We are very grateful for the great service of Bishop Cordes to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and rejoice that he assures us he will continue his interest in and support of the Charismatic Renewal.
Charles Whitehead says: “Bishop Cordes has been a source of encouragement and wise advice to us. He is a tremendous supporter of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and has taken an active interest in everything that has been going on around the world. He has travelled to many different countries to take part in meetings of Charismatics, and it was as a result of his encouragement and hard work that the Statutes for ICCRS and for the Catholic Fraternity were approved.
“We wish him every blessing in his new position, and assure him of our prayers and support”.
In December the Holy Father appointed as Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Laity His Excellency Msgr. Stanislaw Rylko.
Bishop Rylko is a priest of the Archdiocese of Krakow, Poland. He was called to Rome in 1987, when he was given charge of the Youth Section of the Pontifical Council of the Laity. Since 1992 he has served in the Polish section of the Secretariat of State.
ICCRS will continue to relate to the Vatican through the Pontifical Council for the Laity through its President Cardinal Eduardo Pironio and Bishop Stanislaw Rylko, who took Bishop Cordes’ place with the Council for the Laity.
