Vatican: Papa Leo XIV congratulates Cardinal Burke for his 50 years of priest

Pope Leo XIV sent a congratulation letter to the American cardinal Raymond Burke, for his 50 years of priest, and thanked him for his “diligent service” to the dicasteries of the Vatican.

“By celebrating the golden jubilee of his priestly ordination in Rome, which he received as a priest of the Diocese of the Crosse, we thank him for the diligent service he has performed with zeal and the fervent attention that he has demonstrated, especially for the right, which has also been very useful for the dicasteries of the apostolic headquarters,” says the letter of Pope Leon written in Latin. Burke shared in his X account.

The Holy Father stressed that the 77 -year -old cardinal “has preached the precepts of the Gospel according to the heart of Christ and has shared his treasures, diligently offering his devotee service to the universal church.”

“Wishing the best for him, and under the attentive protection of the Blessed Apostles Pedro and Paul, we are pleased to give our apostolic blessing to him and his relatives,” says the letter of Leo XIV, dated June 17 “of the Holy Year 2025”.

Cardinal Burke’s response to Pope Leo XIV

“Praise be Jesus Christ! I deeply move this letter from His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, on the occasion of the celebration of the golden jubilee of my priestly ordination,” wrote the purple that participated in the conclave that chose Robert Prevost as the successor of St. Peter on May 8.

After thanking the choice of the new Pope, Cardinal Burke asked everyone to join Him to pray for “Pope Leo XIV so that our Lord, for the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Saint Peter Apostle and Pope San León Magno, grants him abundant wisdom, strength and courage to fulfill everything our Lord asks for in these difficult times”.

“May God bless Pope Leo XIV and grant him many years of life. Long live the Pope!” He concluded.

Who is Cardinal Raymond Burke?

Raymond Leo Burke was born on June 30, 1948. He was ordained a priest by Pope St. Paul VI on June 29, 1975 in Rome, when he was 26 years old.

He was appointed Bishop of the Crosse, receiving the episcopal consecration by Pope San Juan Pablo II, also in the Eternal City, on January 6, 1995.

In December 2003 he was appointed Arzobispo de Saint Louisin the state of Missouri, where it served until 2008.

In June 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Prefect of the Apostolic Signature, the highest court of the Vatican, a position in which he served until November 2014.

The Purpurado American was one of the four signatories of the dubious (doubts) presented to Pope Francis about the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia of 2016.

Cardinal Burke affirmed in June this year that he asked Pope Leo XIV that the restrictions on the celebration of the traditional Latin mass, established in July 2021 by Motu Proprio Tradition of guards of Pope Francis.