Pope Francis sends his condolences on the death of Cardinal Henri Schwery, saying the emeritus of Zion was a shepherd who was deeply devoted to the faithful of his diocese in Switzerland.
By author of Vatican News staff
Cardinal Henri Schwery, emeritus bishop of Zion in Switzerland, died on Thursday at the age of 88 in his hometown of Saint-Léonard.
In response to his passing, Pope Francis sent a telegram to the late cardinal’s successor, Bishop Jean-Marie Lovey, on Friday. In the message, the pope expresses his condolences to family Cardinal Schwery and all the faithful from the diocese who led him for almost 18 years.
“I ask our merciful Father to welcome this learned man and pastor who was deeply committed to leading his diocese into his peace,” the pope wrote. He praised Cardinal Schwery’s dedication to the needs of the believers, his advancement of priestly professions, and his efforts to promote the unity of the church.
Pope Francis concluded his message by conveying his apostolic blessing to all whose paths crossed those of Cardinal Henri Schwery.
Short biography
Cardinal Henri Schwery, emeritus bishop of Zion (Switzerland), was born on June 14, 1932 in Saint-Léonard, diocese of Zion, a small agricultural center in the valley of Rosano, a few kilometers from the city of Zion, Switzerland.
The last of 11 children, he studied theology at the main seminary of Zion, and then continued in Rome at the French seminary St Clare. In 1957 he was called to Switzerland to study further.
He was ordained a priest on July 25, 1957 at the age of 25. He was then sent to Friborg and obtained a university diploma in mathematics and physics. In 1961 he taught in Zion. For eight years, from 1958, he was diocesan chaplain of the Catholic Action of Young Students. Between 1958 and 1977 he was a military chaplain. He also served for several years as chaplain to the Our Lady of Zion Children’s Choir and board member of the Swiss Children’s Choir Committee. From 1968 to 1972 he was from 1972 to 1977 director of the minor seminary of Zion and rector of the College in Zion.
He was appointed bishop of Zion on July 22, 1977, and was ordained on September 17, 1977. He was also a member of the Congregation for Catholic Education (1978-1983) and participated in numerous meetings on professions and evangelism in Europe and at the extraordinary Synod of 1985. He is also honorary canon of the territorial abbey of Saint Maurice d’Agaunne.
He serves in the Bishops’ Conference and in offices for schools, seminaries and faculties, military chaplains, health care ministry, relations with dioceses outside Switzerland and European conferences. From 1 January 1983 to 31 December 1988, he was president of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference.
He is the author of many pastoral letters and biblical theological reflections on the relationship between the pastor and the human and religious reality of his Church.
In 1978 he dedicated his first letter to laymen and priestly professions. He retired as bishop of Zion on April 1, 1995. He participated in the April 2005 conclave, which elected Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope St. John Paul II created and proclaimed him cardinal in the Consistory of June 28, 1991, proclaiming him the title church of Ss. Protomartiri a Via Aurelia Antica (St. Protomarytrs by Via Aurelia Antica).