After an arson attack damaged Solothurn cathedral on Tuesday, the new bishop of Basel will be installed in Olten, the bishop’s office said on Thursday.
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The service had been scheduled to take place in Solothurn, the seat of the bishopric, on January 16.
Although the fire was extinguished almost immediately, it badly damaged the altar and covered the two organs in soot. The main organ needs to be completely dismantled and cleaned.
The bishop’s office said the service will be held on the date planned. The church of St Martin in Olten had been chosen for its size, location, infrastructure and musical facilities.
The 61-year-old arsonist, who doused the carpet in front of the altar with petrol which he set alight with a candle, was apprehended immediately. He is described as mentally unstable. The cost of the damage is estimated at SFr400,000 ($413,000).
The appointment of the new bishop, Felix Gmür, was announced on November 23. He replaces Kurt Koch, who has been made a cardinal.
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Arson attack damages Solothurn cathedral
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The motive for the attack, which comes two weeks ahead of a ceremony for the new bishop of Basel in the cathedral, remains unclear. The man, who has been described as suffering from psychiatric problems, started the fire after pouring around ten litres of petrol near the main altar on Tuesday morning. The sacristan raised…
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He replaces Kurt Koch, who is packing his bags for Rome after being appointed a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI at the weekend. Gmür was chosen by an 18-head advisory council of the cantonal bishopric on September 8, but his nomination had to be approved by the pope. Basel is Switzerland’s largest bishopric and has…
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It is the first time in recent decades that a Swiss bishop has held a top Vatican position. It is expected that Koch will soon be elevated to the position of cardinal. The announcement on Wednesday was good news for the Swiss Church, which has had a negative press in recent months as the extent…
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