Church - "Bitter personal experience": Gänswein looks back
His relocation to Freiburg was seen as exile by Georg Gänswein, a long-time confidant of Pope Benedict XVI, according to the Catholic newspaper "Die Tagespost" (Wednesday). "The impression that I had been sent into exile was not an unfamiliar one to many people," Gänswein told the paper. "I felt that way myself as well." He had obediently followed the Pope's instructions. "It was a bitter personal experience."
Pope Francis had transferred the long-standing private secretary of his predecessor's office to Freiburg in July, but without an office. Previously, Gänswein had expressed disappointment with the Pontiff in a book and had made some private letters public. Freiburg is the diocese of birth for the Swabian. He currently resides in the priest seminary there.
At the beginning of the week, the Holy See announced that Gänswein had been appointed as the Apostolic Nuncio to the Baltic States. The 67-year-old will represent the interests of the Vatican in Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia in Vilnius.
He did not lose heart and hoped and prayed that one day a new task would come his way, Gänswein told the paper: "It's here now." He sees the function as a sign of trust from the Pope: "This new mission will take me to a country or countries that, given the current political situation, present a delicate challenge," he said.
He is looking forward to it but must first familiarize himself with the situation. He will travel to the Vatican soon to obtain necessary information and instructions. "With the equipment I receive there and much trust in God, I will then get to work." It was initially unknown when the conservative archbishop would assume his new position.
Especially since Russia's attack on Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have been concerned about their security. The Baltic States were still part of the Soviet Union until 1990 and are in the focus of the war due to their geographical proximity to Russia. The Baltic region is geopolitically significant, not only for Germany and the EU. Lithuania is predominantly Roman Catholic, while the population of Latvia is mainly Evangelical-Lutheran. In Estonia, the Catholic Church is less represented than in Latvia: The Estonians mostly profess no religion or belong to the Evangelical or Orthodox Church.
- Georg Gänswein, a long-time confidant of Pope Benedict XVI, felt exiled after being transferred to Freiburg by Pope Francis, a move that was seen as such by Gänswein himself and many others.
- Though disappointed with Pope Francis earlier, Gänswein had obediently followed the Pope's instructions, but his relocation to Freiburg was without an office.
- The Holy See announced that Gänswein would represent the Vatican's interests in the Baltic States, including Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia, in his new position as Apostolic Nuncio.
- Gänswein sees this new mission as a sign of trust from the Pope, despite the delicate challenges that come with the current political situation in the Baltic States.
- Before assuming his new position, Gänswein plans to visit the Vatican to obtain necessary information and instructions to familiarize himself with the situation.
- Amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, the Baltic States, predominantly Roman Catholic in Lithuania, mostly Evangelical-Lutheran in Latvia, and less represented by the Catholic Church in Estonia, have expressed concern for their security.
- The geopolitical significance of the Baltic region extends beyond Germany and the EU, making the appointment of Gänswein as Apostolic Nuncio highly relevant in this critical context.
