Cardinal Kurt Koch presides at vespers at the Basilica of St. Paul's Outside the Walls Jan. 25. 2021. Credit: EWTN-CNA Photo/Daniel Ibáñez/Vatican Pool.

Daniel Ibanez
Cardinal Kurt Koch presides at vespers at the Basilica of St. Paul's Outside the Walls Jan. 25. 2021. Credit: EWTN-CNA Photo/Daniel Ibáñez/Vatican Pool.

Cardinal Koch told CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner, that he was surprised by the tone and choice of words in the statement, as well as its content and timing.