Switzerland: Bishop celebrates Mass in the Protestant Cathedral
On March 25, Bishop Bernard Genoud, of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg celebrated the Mass of the Annunciation in the cathedral of Lausanne. Kept for Protestant worship since the Reformation (1536), the protestant cathedral received a Catholic bishop for the first time in 470 years.
“We welcome you warmly, without any ulterior motive, to this Feast of the Annunciation. The Annunciation of the coming of Christ, of course, but also I hope, of another happy event. That of the new springtime of ecumenism and the birth of a true unity,” declared Etienne Roulet the pastor from the canton of Vaud.
In front of around fifty priests and religious, and 1500 faithful, Bishop Genoud spoke of the place reserved for the “Mother of God” in the Catholic Church. “The Annunciation is a love story. Catholics love what Jesus loved above all else on earth. This is already a step towards holiness, which is the only thing that matters,” explained the bishop.
“I knew that I would be safe from pride and shame in my spiritual mission” in accepting this invitation to come and celebrate the Annunciation in the cathedral,” the bishop of Lausanne told the press.
