Georg Gänswein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Excellency, The Most Reverend Georg Gänswein |
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| Apostolic Nuncio to Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia | |
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Gänswein in 2017
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| Church | Catholic Church |
| See | Urbs Salvia (titular) |
| Enthroned | 24 June 2024 |
| Predecessor | Petar Rajič |
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| Ordination | 31 May 1984 |
| Consecration | 6 January 2013 by Pope Benedict XVI |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 July 1956 Riedern am Wald, Waldshut, West Germany |
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| Alma mater | Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich |
| Motto | Testimonium perhibere veritati (Latin for 'To bear witness to the truth') (John 18:37) |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Georg Gänswein |
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| Reference style | The Most Reverend |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Archbishop |
Georg Gänswein (born 30 July 1956) is an important leader in the Catholic Church from Germany. Since June 24, 2024, he has been an Apostolic Nuncio for Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia. This means he acts like an ambassador for the Pope in these countries.
Before this, he was the Prefect of the Papal Household from 2012 to 2023. In this role, he managed the Pope's daily schedule and visitors. He was also the personal secretary for Pope Benedict XVI. Gänswein is an archbishop and an Honorary Canon of Freiburg Cathedral. He can speak and write fluently in many languages, including Italian, Spanish, German, English, French, and Latin.
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Early Life and Education
Georg Gänswein was born in a small village called Riedern am Wald in Germany. He was the oldest of five children. His father was a blacksmith.
When he was 18, in 1974, Gänswein decided he wanted to become a priest. He started his training in 1976. On May 31, 1984, he became a priest for the Archdiocese of Freiburg. For the next two years, he worked as an assistant priest in the Black Forest region.
He continued his studies and earned a special degree in church law in 1993. He wrote his main paper about the Second Vatican Council. He once said that studying church law was very difficult for him.
Working in the Vatican
In 1993, Gänswein moved to Rome, Italy. He started working for the Roman Curia, which is like the Pope's government. In 1995, he joined a department that deals with church services. A year later, in 1996, he began working with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.
From 1996 to 2005, he also taught church law at a special university in Rome. In 2000, Pope John Paul II gave him the title of Chaplain of His Holiness. In 2003, he became Cardinal Ratzinger's personal secretary. When Cardinal Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, Gänswein became his main private secretary. In 2006, Pope Benedict XVI gave him another special title, Prelate of His Holiness.
In 2007, an Italian fashion designer was inspired by Gänswein's appearance. This led to him being nicknamed "Gorgeous George." In 2013, his photo appeared on the cover of an Italian magazine without his permission.
Gänswein enjoys playing tennis and skiing. He also has a license to fly small planes.
Leading the Papal Household
On December 7, 2012, Gänswein was given a very important job: Prefect of the Pontifical Household. This meant he was in charge of organizing all public and private meetings for the Pope. He also handled the plans for many big events and the Pope's travels. At the same time, he was made an archbishop.
Pope Benedict XVI himself made Gänswein a bishop on January 6, 2013. Just a few weeks later, Pope Benedict XVI decided to step down from being Pope. Gänswein moved with him to a special residence outside the Vatican. He continued his role as Prefect. Later, he moved with Pope Benedict XVI to the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery inside Vatican City.
In early 2020, Gänswein's duties changed. He remained the Prefect, but he no longer performed the public parts of the job. This was described as a "redistribution of duties" for the Pope's staff.
Gänswein still held the title of Prefect when Pope Benedict XVI passed away on December 31, 2022. He met with Pope Francis several times in 2023. In April 2023, Pope Francis told him to move out of his Vatican apartment.
On June 15, 2023, it was announced that Gänswein's time as Prefect ended on February 28, 2023. He was asked to return to his home diocese in Germany starting July 1, 2023. It was unusual for him not to be given a new role right away.
Ambassador for the Pope
After returning to Germany, Gänswein lived in an apartment at the local seminary in Freiburg. On July 17, 2023, he was made an Honorary Canon of Freiburg Cathedral. This means he can sometimes help with church ceremonies and local festivals.
On June 24, 2024, Pope Francis appointed him as the Apostolic Nuncio to Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia. This is a diplomatic role, like being an ambassador for the Pope. It was a bit of a surprise appointment, as there had been talk about his relationship with Pope Francis.
He officially started his role by presenting his credentials to the President of Lithuania on September 6, 2024.
Awards and Honors
Georg Gänswein has received several important awards and honors:
- Bavarian Order of Merit (from Bavaria, Germany)
- Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of Romania (from Romania)
- Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (from Italy)
- Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (from Germany)
- Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (from Austria)
Coat of Arms
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Gänswein's coat of arms has special symbols. The seven-pointed star stands for the Blessed Virgin Mary. The dragon-like snake represents the Devil being defeated by Saint George. His motto, "Testimonium perhibere veritati," means "To bear witness to the truth."
See also
In Spanish: Georg Gänswein para niños
