Jean-Claude Hollerich comments on the Caritas affair

After his return from Rome, where he was one of the cardinals in the conclave, cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich took part in the octave on Saturday. He didn’t want to miss that, said Hollerich. In Luxembourg, however, he also awaits criticism of his behavior in the Caritas fraud affair.

At a press conference, the cardinal commented on the criticism that the former Caritas director Erny Gillen expressed on radio 100.7. He had explained Hollerich The cardinal would not have helped Caritas for career reasons. Hollerich rejected this: « I am surprised that someone claims something like this. On the contrary – if I had acted for career reasons, I would have had to help Caritas. That would have looked good internationally. »

However, the organization’s financial rescue was not possible. « Then our church would be bankrupt after 15 years, » said Hollerich. The diocese does not have the means to catch an NGO like Caritas. « We should have invested huge sums. But where should we get the money from? Our salary costs rise every year because we are constantly hiring new people. And many construction projects with which we could actually achieve income are on hold.

The cardinal emphasized that the sale of church real estate is also out of the question – among other things because of the ongoing salary payments. « The wages of our pastors are not high anyway. The Caritas employees earn more. I earn well myself, but I donate a lot – in the end there is not much in my account. »

Money request by email

When asked by the fraud affair of 61 million euros, he could not say exactly, Hollerich said when asked by the « Luxembourg word ». He received an email from a delegate who works at Caritas. In it he was asked for a transfer of money. « I found it outrageous to ask for so much money over this channel. Something like this has to be communicated differently. » Overall, he only « knew very little », and the little one was even from a delegate.

As the person responsible, he cannot act like that, said the cardinal. « Then I would be a bad cashier as at Caritas if I simply sent millions through the world based on an email. No! » Emphasizes Hollerich. He no longer knew the exact sum. However, he assumes that he received the email after the Caritas scandal became known in mid-July.

In a « word » interview in September, Hollerich had declared that it was only late by the Caritas crisis manager Christian Billion, the Caritas crisis managerto have been contacted. Did he know earlier? « I don’t have an exact date in my head – after the events in Rome. But I didn’t lie. »

When he received the email, he was on vacation-as well as his closest employees, which he could not bring back at short notice. He also dismayed the news that the Caritas finance director consulted a fortune teller. « Something like that should not occur in today’s institutions, » said Hollerich.

Support was also difficult in personnel. « Caritas has hired more people than the diocese. We could not have caught that with small churches. » At the same time, the cardinal made it clear: « Caritas does a good job – in Luxembourg and abroad. I have always emphasized that in this case it is the victim, not the perpetrator. »

To the new structure « Hëllef for Terrain » (hat) who has taken over part of the Caritas activities since October 2024, said Hollerich: « I was asked if I wanted to become a member-but I refused. This is not a Christian organization. That doesn’t mean that non-Christians don’t do a good thing. But my job is to be Bishop of the Catholic Church. »

The church’s own organization Parage.lu has taken on a small part of international help. « We had to hire an additional person for this – with the support of the diocese, » said Hollerich. The state also participated in this transition phase, « as it generally does in such cases ». The diocese made a significant contribution.