If there is a discreet place in the church, it is apostolic donations. These embassies of the Holy See never communicate publicly. A custom that was violated by the French nunciature on Thursday.
We thus learned that the Pope had “to order” apostolic visit to the Archbishop of Strasbourg. The press release does not mention the bearer of this diocese, Mr.letter Luc Ravel, 65, appointed to Alsace in February 2017. The nunciature explains that the reason for this general audit of the diocese, which is a common practice in the Church and provided for by canon law, is related to ” Information relating to the accession to the Holy See and the pastoral government of the Archdiocese of Strasbourg”.
This measure repeats that which applied to the bishopric of Toulon. But it is of a different nature. The visit led by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Marseille, Cardinal Jean-Marc Avellin in Toulon was not published. He was a type “fraternal” particularly an inward approach to seeking solutions to the many pastoral issues that affect “admission policy” priests.
In Strasbourg it is a higher level, more administrative, which calls into question the general and ordinary governance of the bishop, including his relationship with the priests and the faithful. It also has nothing to do with the ideological issue that will concern Pope Francisletter Ravel, rather classically, was the only French bishop to publicly call for a vote by Emmanuel Macron, who is much admired by Francois. Luc Ravel is also close to the thought and spirituality of the Jesuit Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. There is nothing “traditional” about it.
Finally, this canonical visitation was entrusted to a very experienced bishop from the Grand Est region;is Stanislas Lalan. This accomplished German speaker is the current bishop of Pontoise. He will be helped by Mr.letter Joel Mercier, Honorary Secretary of the Dicastery of the Clergy, therefore with Roman experience, which also bodes well for the great seriousness of the coming audit, the conclusions of which are not yet predictable.
“Far From People”
What do we blame M.letter Ravel? A recent affair in which he unceremoniously sacked his bursar, Jacques Bourrier, a former officer in the national navy, led to condemnations. DNA “Bishop’s Banana Republic Practice”. Many priests – they are 511 – and lay people also say “suffer” to his style “Aloof and not very accessible, sometimes authoritarian”.
Priests were shocked during Holy Week 2022 to find their bishop absent from Christmas Mass – the only year the bishop celebrates with all his priests – because he had chosen to honor the candidate with his presence. Macron in the capital of Alsace. It is true that the diocese is under concordat regime. Several regional sources testified Thursday “relief” was provoked by this decision of the pope. As for M.letter Ravel, unavailable, he said in a press release that he welcomes him“With faith and trust”.
Source: Le Figaro
