Pope not bothering to give Archbishop Gänswein a new role
Father Georg's new life in Germany: 'I'm a nuisance, it's too early to say what it will be like'
The former personal secretary of Benedict XVI, Georg Gänswein: here in Freiburg the wine is better than in Italy
"I arrived four days ago, it is too early to say what this new life will be like. I still have to understand what I will do". Father Georg Gänswein does indeed seem a little bewildered. From the announcement of the 'exile' imposed on him in mid-June by Pope Francis to today, a month has passed, but everything is still to be written. What does he have in mind? 'In the coming days I will see Archbishop Berger, we will discuss it. I'm a nuisance,' he says jokingly, 'in the sense that I'm cumbersome, I found myself in the middle of this situation. Perhaps this is also why his return to Freiburg, his diocese, has been surrounded by the utmost secrecy, if not mystery. Until now, he had never spoken.
Everyone is looking for him
The search starts in the morning. He is not among the six celebrants of the 7 o'clock mass in the majestic Münsterplatz cathedral, on the day of St Ulrich, patron saint of Breisgau, when, according to many of the faithful who were searching for news at the Herrenstrasse parish office the evening before, he would have made his first public appearance. He is not among the thousands of tables in bars and restaurants swarming with tourists and university students, while the people of Freiburg peek around discreetly, hoping to catch a glimpse of this other illustrious fellow-citizen, in addition to Joachim Löw, the former coach of the German national team. Gänswein does not reply to his long-time friend Joachim Roderer, who proudly shows a photo from ten years ago in which, wearing strange coloured hats, he and some friends on a trip to Rome had the chance to meet Pope Ratzinger.
The mystery of his presence in the city
Of his presence in the city, on the other hand, the Archdiocesan press office gives no confirmation, nor does the concierge of the Collegium Borromaenum, where he allegedly resides, go beyond the concession of being able to accept a note written in pen to be deposited in his private box. "But is there? Will you read it?" "Talk to the press office."
Waiting and confidentiality
Last known address Santa Marta, Vatican City, new residence assumed Schoferstrasse, assignee of a 150 square metre flat. Ever since the newspaper Die Welt gave a preview of the arrival, indiscretions have been rife. Scheduled for 1 July, postponed to 7, given for certain a week ago (the only clue: the signs of a move that appeared in front of the College). "The Vatican's George Clooney returns to Germany," predicted the Bild. "Neither Archbishop Berger nor Vicar General Neubrand have been informed," reconstructed the Badische Zeitung. But is Father Georg there or not? "Of course, he is at the college," a novice let slip, before being told off by his superior.
Exile and controversy
A necessary recapitulation: Pope Francis, with whom there has never been good blood, dismissed Benedict XVI's former personal secretary after 28 years in the Vatican, reassigning him to Germany 'for the time being'. Gänswein does not, however, have a new job. He is almost 67 years old and eight years away from retirement. The Archbishop of Freiburg, already shaken by a sex abuse scandal, is not authorised to give him directives. This is an unprecedented situation and their cooperation will have to be negotiated on not simple premises. Brisgau, with 1.8 million people, is one of the largest archdioceses in Germany, but cathedral masses are half-deserted and on Gänswein, who is far more traditionalist than the local church, the hopes for a revival are also focused. Stephan Ort, the theologian and editor-in-chief of the Catholic magazine Herder, where Gänswein has also written, downplays: 'It is normal to have this expectation for such a media figure, but there is no double Archbishop problem.
'Soon I will know'
It is almost dinnertime. As the orchestra of boys streams out of the College, there he is at last. Priestly uniform jacket slung over his shoulders, he greets a man at the entrance and briefly ushers him into the office. Father Georg, may I? His welcome to the intrusion is sincere, he seems almost pleased to have such attention in the limbo in which he finds himself: 'I saw your note, did the Courier really send you to find me? As you know, I promised to keep quiet and obey'.
The informal interview
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