Msgr. Georg Gänswein will not be assigned to a specific role in his new destination, the Diocese of Freiburg (Germany), where he has been since the end of June following his departure from the Vatican at the request of Pope Francis.
The former personal secretary to Benedict XVI, Msgr. Georg Gänswein, has returned to his hometown diocese of Freiburg (Germany) after serving in the Vatican for 28 years.
Rumors about Msgr. Gänswein’s future role in Rome and the Church in Germany circulated for months following the death of Benedict XVI. It was on June 15 when the Holy See finally confirmed that the Archbishop would return to his diocese in southwestern Germany. In an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Msgr. Georg Gänswein, author of the book “Nothing but the Truth,” described himself as “a headache” for his new diocese and expressed feeling “in the middle of this situation.”
Shortly after this account, Msgr. Gänswein met with the Archbishop of the city, Msgr. Stephan Burger, who informed him about his future responsibilities.
In a brief statement issued by the Archdiocese of Freiburg on July 17, it was announced that the 66-year-old Msgr. Gänswein “will not assume a fixed and permanent assignment.” The statement further noted that “he may take on individual assignments, such as confirmations or some solemn Masses, after consulting with Archbishop Burger.”
The statement, published in German, also mentioned that “Furthermore, Msgr. Gänswein will regularly preside over Masses at the Freiburg Cathedral as an honorary canon starting in the fall.”
Pope Francis conveyed his decision to Msgr. Gänswein during a private audience on May 19. According to German media, the Holy Father referred to the tradition that former private secretaries to the Popes do not remain in Rome.
