Vatican grounds Archbishop Gänswein in Germany

Vatican confirms: Gänswein must return to Germany

It is now official: Joseph Ratzinger's long-time secretary, Georg Gänswein, must indeed leave the Vatican. As the Vatican announced today, the consecrated bishop is to return to his home Diocese of Freiburg, starting as early as 1 July.

The long-time private secretary of the late Pope Benedict XVI, Georg Gänswein, must return to Germany. Pope Francis' decision was officially announced by the Vatican today, after there had already been identical but unconfirmed media reports about the 66-year-old archbishop in the past.

Entrusted with no diocese entrusted despite bishop's consecration

According to the Vatican announcement, Gänswein is to return to his home diocese of Freiburg as early as next month - with a deadline of 1 July. The Archdiocese is also responsible for the clergyman's further care. Gänswein was ordained priest in 1984 by the then Archbishop of Freiburg, Oskar Saier.

He was consecrated bishop on 6 January 2013 by Pope Benedict XVI, who had already decided to resign. Gänswein's predecessor, Josef Clemens, had also been promoted: Ratzinger had also ordained his first private secretary as bishop on a 6 January - back in 2004 - assuming that he would soon retire as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at that time and would no longer need a private secretary. The bishop's ordination was intended to ensure that Josef Clemens would remain in a high church office.

A Bishop without a diocese, dioceses without a bishop

In recent months there has been speculation that Gänswein - at 66 still comparatively young by ecclesiastical standards - could be appointed head pastor of a diocese in future. Bishops do not have to offer their resignation to the Pope for reasons of age until they are 75. Gänswein was considered for the Archdiocese of Bamberg, which is without a leader after the resignation of Archbishop Ludwig Schick last November, or Vaduz in Liechtenstein, whose bishop's seat will soon be vacant.

Theoretically, a transfer of Gänswein to a Bishop's see is still possible even after his return to Germany. "That is the Pope's decision, which we do not comment on," the Archdiocese of Bamberg said when asked by BR.

"Humiliated" by Francis

It was not disclosed why Francis is now sending Gänswein back to Freiburg without an office. According to observers, the relationship between the Pope and the ex-Papal Secretary is considered strained. In his book "Nothing but the Truth", published after the death of Benedict XVI, Gänswein indirectly comments on this himself, for example by describing a situation in which he "felt humiliated" by Francis.

"You stay at home from now on."

The Vatican also provided more detailed information on Gänswein's many years as Prefect of the Papal Household this Thursday. According to the statement, Gänswein has not been officially active in this function since 28 February of this year. He had already been released from this task since January 2020: "From now on, you stay at home. You accompany Benedict, who needs you, and shield him," Gänswein quotes Francis in his book.

So now Gänswein has to return home. Pope Emeritus Benedict, who needed him, is no longer alive. And his last task as Joseph Ratzinger's executor should also be done once the heirs have been determined. What task he will take on in Freiburg, in Germany, remains to be seen. In any case, the first talks are already underway with the Bishop of Freiburg, Stephan Burger, about what a collaboration might look like.

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Cathcon: A employee can always be judged by the way that they conduct their human resources management.  In this case, they are infantile.