News Release: President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State Visits New Michigan Catholic Conference Building

LANSING—The Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC) welcomed a key Vatican official to Lansing this week as His Eminence Edmund Cardinal Szoka toured the new MCC building in downtown Lansing on Tuesday, August 26. Cardinal Szoka is President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, where he serves as chief operating officer.

“It was an honor and privilege to have Cardinal Szoka in Lansing to tour our new facility,” said MCC President and CEO Sister Monica Kostielney, RSM. “Cardinal Szoka is a dear friend to the MCC. His work with the Conference has been invaluable and I am especially proud of his achievements since his departure. This was an exciting day for the MCC.”

Arriving from Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, Cardinal Szoka was greeted by Sister Monica and the staff at MCC. His Eminence proceeded to join the MCC management staff for lunch, and then continued his visit by touring the building floor by floor, including a visit to the St. Thomas More Chapel.

A member of the MCC Board of Directors from 1971 to 1990, Cardinal Szoka served as chairman of the Board from 1981 to 1990. In 1990 Pope John Paul II appointed Cardinal Szoka to the Prefecture of Economic Affairs of the Holy See—where he served until 1997, when he was appointed President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State. On February 22, 2001 His Eminence was appointed President of the Governatorate of Vatican City State.

Michigan Catholic Conference is the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in this state.

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