Pope Francis Decrees that Archbishop Georg Gänswein will Temporarily Return to his Home Diocese in Germany

 Pope Francis has decreed that Archbishop Georg Gänswein will temporarily return to his home diocese of Freiburg, effective July 1. The Holy See announced this Thursday afternoon.

Without giving further details, the press office communiqué said that Archbishop Georg Gänswein ended his office as Prefect of the Papal Household on February 28, 2023. The 66-year-old grew up as the eldest son of Albert and Gertrud Gänswein with two younger brothers and two younger sisters in Riedern am Wald in the southern Black Forest in the Archdiocese of Freiburg. He became known in 2005 as the private secretary of Pope Benedict XVI. He continued in this office after Benedict's retirement in 2013 until his death in 2022. Since the longtime private secretary of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who died at the turn of the year. continues to be a priest in the archdiocese of Freiburg, this diocese in south-west Germany remains responsible for his care.

Gänswein worked for Benedict XVI, who came from Germany, for many years; before, during and after the pontificate. Since 2013 he has also served as House Prefect of Pope Francis. In 2020, Francis gave Gänswein leave of absence from this office so that he could devote himself entirely to the pope emeritus.

The Prefecture is responsible for the reception services and the organization of the solemn audiences granted by the Pope to heads of state, government, ministers and other eminent persons, as well as to the ambassadors who go to the Vatican to present their credentials.

Source: Vatican News German Ed.