Prague Archbishop laments his failures in office

Prague Archbishop Miloslav Vlk has assessed his twenty years in office with a critical eye, saying there was little to show for his efforts. In an interview for Czech public television on Sunday, the cardinal pointed out that the restitution of church assets remained unresolved, as did the ownership of Prague’s famous St. Vitus Cathedral, he said he had failed to push though an amendment to the church law and the Czech Republic was one of the few remaining countries which do not have a treaty with the Vatican. Cardinal Vlk said there had been no lack of effort on his part but that political circumstances had not been in his favour. The head of the Czech Catholic Church is planning to retire from his post before the end of the year.