Prologue to Beatification

Pope John Paul II, who died on April 2, 2005, has canonised and beatified more people from all continents of the earth than any of his predecessors. Among those elevated to the honour of the altars is Cardinal von Galen (1878 - 1945), the "Lion of Münster". His beatification in the Autumn of 2005 will take place in a time where religion is being crowded by laicism and the culture of life threatens to be replaced by a culture of death. Especially now, Cardinal von Galen can be an impressive role model for us: by his willingness to defend the freedom of conscience and faith at all times on the one hand, and by his unrestricted commitment to a culture of life on the other.

Fought against the National Socialist culture of death: Cardinal Clemens August von Galen

At present, there are many discussions in Europe about euthanasia which is already legalised in a number of states. The late Pope John Paul II recognised the writing on the wall early on. His decision to include Cardinal von Galen in the Register of Beati is a signal to fight for a dignified death of the old and infirm and to oppose killing them in the name of a questionable humanity.