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Archbishop Georg Gänswein in Bochum: Hundreds of pilgrims and one question. Will he return to Germany?

At a pilgrimage service in Bochum-Stiepel on Sunday, numerous pilgrims and also journalists were looking for answers.


The sun is shining over Bochum - but Archbishop Georg Gänswein's mood seems rather cloudy. The former private secretary of Pope Benedict XVI (2005-2013) has come to the Cistercian monastery of Stiepel this Sunday to celebrate a festive service. For 100 years, Catholics who come from Eichsfeld in Thuringia have been making pilgrimages to the image of the Sorrowful Mother of Stiepel. Months ago, shortly after the death of Benedict XVI, Gänswein had already accepted an invitation from the Eichsfeld associations. At that time, he was probably still hoping to continue his career in the Pope's service.

But if what the "Welt" reported on Friday is true, citing "several high-ranking church sources", Gänswein has only four weeks left to leave Rome. Pope Francis had already instructed him in a private audience on 19 May to return to his German home bishopric of Freiburg by 1 July.

The Archbishop will not talk to media representatives

Gänswein has long been considered one of the most influential Germans in the Vatican and has been permanently present in the German media in recent weeks. This is one of the reasons why not only about 500 people attended the service at the idyllic monastery on the outskirts of Bochum, but also a number of journalists made the pilgrimage. After all, this is the first public appearance of the churchman after this news.

Even before the service began, however, it was clear that the Archbishop would not want to talk to media representatives. Instead, he will seek dialogue with the altar servers, who have been chosen, among other things, to hold his mitre and crosier during the ceremony if necessary. The crosier must always point in a certain direction, Gänswein explains. "It all has its meaning."

Pilgrimage service in the open air with Archbishop Georg Gänswein on 4 June 2023 at the Cistercian monastery in Bochum-Stiepel.

Some things involuntarily take on a double meaning on this day. In his brief greeting at the start of the open-air Mass, the 66-year-old urges humility. "Celebrating us leads to ruin, celebrating God leads to blessing." Gänswein had also given himself humbly recently in his numerous interviews. "I had to live into serving," Gänswein told the newspaper "Bunten". With regard to the Papal powers in the Catholic Church, he stated: "Upper stings lower. I have accepted that."

How it actually looks inside him after Pope Francis' presumed decision, he keeps to himself. After the service, a family introduces itself whose youngest son is called Benedict. A beautiful name, in Gänswein's opinion. His own professional path remains closely linked to the former head of the church with the same name. He has been at odds with his successor Francis for years, as can be seen from reading his recently published memoir "Nothing but the Truth". In the volume, he describes the good cooperation with Benedict XVI, but also isolated tensions between the Pope from Germany and his successor Francis.

A piece of wall with barbed wire for the archbishop

Meanwhile, the changes in church and society can also be seen in Bochum-Stiepel. "In the 1960s, 15,000 people came here," says a member of the local Miners' Association "Hammer and Iron". Back then, the pilgrimage was a kind of family and craftsmen's reunion. Even now, delegations of hairdressers, bakers, plumbers and roofers have come with colourful flags.

The chimney sweep guild hands out lucky charms, small black plastic chimney sweep figures. Will there be something for the Archbishop too? "He'll get one too." In any case, Gänswein receives a gift from the Eichsfelders. Edgar Pferner, dressed in traditional Eichsfeld costume, presents Gänswein with a piece of the wall with barbed wire behind which the Eichsfeld lay in GDR times. "With my God I jump over walls" is written on the plaque attached to it. Perhaps Gänswein will also be jumping over walls very soon. Those of the Vatican. Another public appearance in Germany has already been announced: On 15 August, Gänswein is expected to attend the Feast of the Assumption in the pilgrimage site of Maria Vesperbild between Augsburg and Ulm.

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His memoirs caused a stir in the Vatican, after a service in Bochum they cause a long queue. Archbishop Gänswein signs his books.

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