Cardinal Burke tests positive for COVID-19

By Alejandro Bermudez

Denver Newsroom, Aug 10, 2021 / 22:15 pm

Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke confirmed on the evening of Tuesday, August 10, that he has tested positive for COVID-19 but that he is doing well.

In a tweet, Cardinal Burke wrote: "Praised be Jesus Christ! I wish to inform you that I have recently tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Thanks be to God, I am resting comfortably and receiving excellent medical care. Please pray for me as I begin my recovery. Let us trust in Divine Providence. God bless you."

The Cardinal’s tweet put to rest speculations circulating on social media regarding his health. Early in the day, Monsignor Roger J. Scheckel, a priest of the diocese of La Crosse, posted a message on social media denying the Cardinal had COVID-19, citing Mary Burke, the Cardinal's sister.

"He [Cardinal Burke] has been tired out because of his schedule at the Shrine [of Our Lady of Guadalupe] and a Confirmation in Wausau [Wisconsin],” wrote Monsignor Scheckel. He added that the Cardinal “[a]lso has a bad sinus infection” and that he “HAS NOT been diagnosed with Covid. Is not deathly ill." 

"Mary asked that we should do whatever we can to put an end to the rumors," the post said. The Cardinal made public his condition several hours later.

Alejandro Bermudez is a Peruvian journalist who was the Executive Director of Catholic News Agency from its founding until April 2022 and the ACI Group, which includes ACI Prensa, ACI Digital, ACI Stampa, CNA Deutsche, and ACI Africa until December 2022.