Pope Francis offers his condolences to the death of Cardinal Henri Schwery, saying that the Bishop Emeritus of Sion was a shepherd deeply devoted to the faithful of his diocese in Switzerland.
By Vatican News Staff Writer
Cardinal Henri Schwery, Bishop Emeritus of Sion in Switzerland, died Thursday at the age of 88 in his hometown of Saint-Léonard.
In response to his death, Pope Francis sent a telegram to the late Cardinal’s successor, Bishop Jean-Marie Lovey, on Friday. In the message, the Pope expressed his condolences to the family of Cardinal Schwery and all the faithful of the diocese he led for nearly 18 years.
“I ask our Merciful Father to welcome into His peace and light this learned man and preacher who was deeply committed to directing his diocese,” wrote the Pope. He praised Cardinal Schwery’s commitment to the needs of the faithful, his promotion of priestly vocations, and his efforts to promote the unity of the Church.
Pope Francis concluded his message by conveying his apostolic blessing to all those whose paths had crossed those of Cardinal Henri Schwery.
Short biography
Cardinal Henri Schwery, Bishop Emeritus of Sion (Switzerland), was born on June 14, 1932 in Saint-Léonard, Diocese of Sion, a small agricultural center in the Rosano Valley, a few kilometers from the city of Sion, Switzerland.
The last of eleven children, he studied theology at the major seminary of Sion, and continued in Rome at the French seminary of St. Clare. In 1957 he was called to Switzerland to continue his studies.
He was ordained a priest on July 7, 1957 at the age of 25. He was then sent to Friborg where he obtained a university degree in mathematics and physics. In 1961 he taught in Sion. From 1958 he was a diocesan chaplain of the Catholic Youth Action for eight years. Between 1958 and 1977 he was a military chaplain. For several years he was also chaplain of the children’s choir Our Lady of Sion and councilor of the Swiss Committee of Children’s Choirs. From 1968 to 1972 he was director of the minor seminary in Sion and from 1972 to 1977 rector of the College in Sion.
He was appointed Bishop of Sion 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 vocations and evangelization in Europe and in the extraordinary synod of 1985. He is also honorary canon of the territorial abbey of Saint Maurice d’Agaunne.
He served in the Episcopal Conference and in offices for schools, seminars and faculties, military chaplains, the Ministry of Health, relations with dioceses outside Switzerland and European conferences. From January 1, 1983 to December 31, 1988, he was President of the Swiss Conference of Bishops.
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 lay and priestly vocations. He retired as Bishop of Sion on April 1, 1995. He participated in the April 2005 conclave electing Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope John Paul II created him and proclaimed him cardinal in the consistory of June 28, 1991, and bequeathed him the title church of Ss. Protomartiri a Via Aurelia Antica (St. Protomarytrs at Via Aurelia Antica).