Source: Catholic Online

Tomorrow it is expected that Pope Benedict XVI will appoint Bishop Kurt Koch, current Bishop of Basel and former president of the conference of Swiss Bishops,  as the head of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. (In fact, the appointment has already been confirmed by Fr. Federico Lombardi.) Bishop Koch replaces Cardinal Walter Kasper who has served on the council since 1999.

Koch was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Basel on June 20, 1982. On August 21, 1995, he was elected Bishop of the the same diocese. Koch was ordained to the episcopacy on January 6, 1996 by Pope John Paul II.

The news of this appointment is already getting support from the World Council of Churches general secretary, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit:

“We rejoice at the appointment of Bishop Kurt Koch as president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity”, said Tveit commenting on the news. “We welcome his appointment and look forward to working with him for the visible unity of the church”, he added.

Tveit said that “Bishop Koch is well known for his openness and deep ecumenical commitment. His book ‘That all may be one; Ecumenical perspectives’ is an excellent summary of the present state of ecumenical dialogue and relations”.

“We see in Bishop Koch a reliable partner for all those involved in the ecumenical movement and trust he will continue Cardinal Walter Kasper’s emphasis on spiritual ecumenism”, Tveit said.

“Bishop Koch has been given a very important responsibility as the call for all Christians to be one comes from Jesus Christ himself”, Tveit said. “I wish him much joy in fulfilling this calling, and that God may give him strength.”

More to come…stay tuned.

Source: World Council of Churches