Czechs welcome home late Cardinal
who fought Communism
 |
| Cardinal Josef Beran and Pope Paul VI. (Vatican Media) |
The Czech Republic has welcomed home the human remains of
Cardinal Josef Beran, seen as a symbol of defiance of the former Communist
government which forced him into exile in the Vatican. The cardinal, who died
49 years ago, always wanted to be buried in his homeland.
By Stefan J. Bos
Czech soldiers were carefully carrying the coffin containing
the human remains of Cardinal Josef Beran.
His remains arrived here at the Kbely airport in the Czech
capital Prague from Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.
He had been buried there in a particular privilege usually
only reserved for popes.
Now he has finally returned home.
At an emotionally charged ceremony, government and church
leaders recalled a man who became archbishop in 1946 after surviving the Nazis'
Dachau concentration camp during World War Two.
Opposing regime
Following the Communist coup in 1948 in then-Czechoslovakia,
Beran publicly opposed the new regime.
He was put under house arrest and moved by the secret police
from village to village. Authorities wanted to cut the ties between him and his
flock.
The regime jailed thousands of Catholic priests, monks, nuns and active Catholic lay people. Communists also confiscated property and destroyed churches and monasteries as they saw the church and devoted Christians as their arch-enemy.
The regime jailed thousands of Catholic priests, monks, nuns and active Catholic lay people. Communists also confiscated property and destroyed churches and monasteries as they saw the church and devoted Christians as their arch-enemy.
In 1965, Pope Paul VI appointed Beran a cardinal. The
Communist government let him leave for Rome. But without the option to return
home.
He died in 1969 at the age of 80. However, he always wanted
to be buried at home one day, explained Stanislav Zeman who is the spokesman
for the Prague archdiocese.
Last will
"Because of the last will of Cardinal Josef Beran, who
wanted to be buried in Prague, the current Cardinal, Dominik Duka, asked to
fulfill Cardinal Beran’s wish," he told Radio Prague.
"In the spirit of this, there were some negotiations with
the specific Vatican congregation," Zeman added.
In Prague, people can pay their respects until Monday.
In Prague, people can pay their respects until Monday.
On Monday, Beran will be buried at St Vitus Cathedral.
That's the main Czech church and the seat of the archbishop
of Prague, a post which Beran also held during his remarkable life.
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