Who is Cardinal Kasper?

On February 20, 2014, Pope Francis gave retired German theologian Cardinal Kasper the high honour of addressing the entire College of Cardinals gathered in Rome for what many say is the "most important week" in Pope Francis' young papacy. The Cardinals have converged in the Vatican to witness the installation of 19 new Cardinals - as well as for a series of meetings that are meant as a preparation for the landmark Synod of Bishops on the Family on October 5-19, 2014.

On a separate important occasion - in his first Angelus address given on March 17, 2013 - Pope Francis made the rare papal act of publicly citing and praising a fellow cardinal:

In these days, I have been able to read a book by a cardinal—Cardinal Kasper, a talented theologian, a good theologian—on mercy. And it did me such good, that book, but don't think that I'm publicizing the books of my cardinals. That is not the case! But it did me such good, so much good...

The first Angelus address of the pope is an important occasion - it is the first scheduled appearance and public address of the pope in St. Peter’s Square since the night of his election. To publicly cite, praise and acknowledge Cardinal Kasper in his first official Angelus address indicates to us that Kasper is obviously a very important man for the pope - a “talented theologian”, as he says.

Who is Cardinal Walter Kasper - this Cardinal whom the pope greatly respects?

This article is not your ordinary, bland profile of a cardinal. As you will see in the next few pages, there is more than meets the eye in this Kasper-Pope Francis connection. It is important that we understand this connection, since it will have a defining impact on the papacy and the future direction of the Catholic Church.