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(21 Feb 2001) German/Nat
XFA
The most surprising addition to Wednesday's ordination of 44 Catholic cardinals in Rome, former German Archbishop, Karl Lehmann, has again denied he ever suggested that Pope John Paul II should resign.

Speaking after being ordinated along with a record number of cardinals, the newest German addition to the fold said he was misreported by the Italian media.

Cardinal Lehmann said the ANSA news agency got it wrong when it reported last year that he believed ailing popes should be forced to resign - a theory to which the current Pope is opposed.

Many within the church believed Lehmann would never make cardinal because of the reported remarks.

Now one of nine German cardinals, he was a surprise and late addition to the appointees having been left out of the original list, announced several months ago.

Cardinal Lehmann said his ordination today was a positive step for the Catholic church in German, and in particular, for his own diocese of Mainz.

SOUNDBITE: (German)
"So I believe I was the 41st, perhaps it took him (the Pope) a short while to realise who I was, and I'm sure he was a little bit exhausted from the ceremony. But he immediately switched to German, and he asked me to convey his greeting to the city of Mainz. Perhaps many don't realise that the Pope then went on to say a prayer which included a blessing for each individual so there was never much time to really get a chance to speak to him individually. There were some old university friends, or perhaps long-time associates, with whom he then spoke for a little bit longer and I think that's totally understandable."
SUPERCAPTION: Cardinal Karl Lehmann, new cardinal

SOUNDBITE: (German)
"No, that's false information from ANSA (Italian news agency). She's just said (referring to a journalist) that there have been reports in Italy that I have said that the Pope should resign and I said 'No I've never said that.' That rumour was launched by an Italian news agency. Thank God RAI gave me the opportunity on the same day to correct that. But on a day like today, I have not come here to discuss this matter. We can't have church politics every day."
SUPERCAPTION: Cardinal Karl Lehmann, new cardinal

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