Pope Francis sends his condolences on the death of Cardinal Henri Schwery and says that the Bishop Emeritus of Sion was a pastor deeply dedicated to the faithful of his diocese in Switzerland.
By the editor of Vatican News
Cardinal Henri Schwery, bishop emeritus of Sion in Switzerland, died on Thursday at the age of 88 in his hometown of Saint-Léonard.
In response to his death, Pope Francis sent a telegram on Friday to the successor of the late cardinal, Bishop Jean-Marie Lovey. In the message, the Pope expressed his condolences to the family of Cardinal Schwery and to all the faithful of the diocese that he has led for almost 18 years.
“I ask our merciful Father to welcome in his peace and light this cultured man and pastor who has been deeply dedicated to guiding his diocese,” wrote the Pope. He praised Cardinal Schwery’s dedication 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 transmitting his Apostolic Blessing to all those whose paths crossed with that of Cardinal Henri Schwery.
Brief 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 11 children, he studied theology at the major seminary in Sion, then continued in Rome at the French seminary in Santa Clara. In 1957, he was called to Switzerland to pursue studies.
He was ordained a priest on July 7, 1957 at the age of 25. Then he was sent to Friborg and obtained a university degree in mathematics and physics. In 1961 he taught at Sion. For eight years, starting in 1958, he was a diocesan chaplain for Catholic Action for Young Students. Between 1958 and 1977, he was a military chaplain. He also served for several years as chaplain to the children’s choir Our Lady of Sion and advisor to the Swiss Committee of children’s choirs. From 1968 to 1972, he was director of the minor seminary in Sion and rector of the College of Sion from 1972 to 1977.
On 22 July 1977 he was appointed bishop of Sion and ordained on 17 September 1977. He was also a member of the Congregation for Catholic Education (1978-1983), having participated in numerous meetings on vocations and evangelization in Europe and at the extraordinary Synod 1985. He is also canon of honor at the territorial abbey of Saint Maurice d’Agaunne.
He served in the Episcopal Conference and in offices for schools, seminars and colleges, 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 Episcopal Conference.
He is the author of numerous pastoral letters and biblical-theological reflections on the pastor’s relationship with 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 conclave of April 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope St. John Paul II created him and proclaimed him Cardinal in the Consistory of June 28, 1991, giving him the titular Church of Ss. Protomartiri to Via Aurelia Antica (Sts. Protomarytrs on Via Aurelia Antica).