Today, Leo XIV appointed Monsignor Christian Würtz, 55, as Bishop of Eichstätt, Germany.
Leo
XIV again chose a canon lawyer. A native of Karlsruhe, he originally
studied law at Heidelberg University before entering the seminary. He
holds two doctorates - one in both civil and canon law (doctor iuris
utriusque) and another in theology.
He also served as rector of Freiburg's seminary.
At
48, he was the youngest bishop in Germany when he was ordained
auxiliary bishop of Freiburg in 2019. At 55, he now becomes the youngest
diocesan bishop in Germany.
Part of the "Rainbow" Faction Among Bishops
In
September 2022, Monsignor Würtz voted "yes" at the German Synodal Way
for the controversial document on the Doctrinal Reassessment of
Homosexuality. The document argued that homosexual orientation is "not
self-chosen and ... cannot be changed," and that homosexual Catholics
should be accepted without reservation.
He also voted yes for the
document "Dealing with Gender Diversity." It asked bishops to ensure
that transgender and intersex people could live in the Church "without
hostility and without discrimination." The document encouraged dioceses
to revise practical matters such as church registers and pastoral
procedures so they could accommodate "gender diversity".
Six
months later, in March 2023, he also voted in favor of the document
"Blessing Ceremonies for Couples Who Love Each Other," which proposed
the official introduction of blessing ceremonies for homosexual and
remarried divorced couples.
Openness towards Protesting Feminists
At
his episcopal consecration in Freiburg in 2019, Monsignor Würtz was met
by a protest from the anti-Catholic movement “Maria 2.0”. They didn’t
oppose him personally but the Church's all-male priesthood and
episcopate.
Monsignor Würtz walked over to greet them after the
consecration. According to both the Archdiocese of Freiburg and Maria
2.0, he spoke with the protesters, blessed them, handed them a personal
letter, and presented them with a red ball of yarn as a symbolic "thread
of dialogue" (pictured above).
The gesture drew praise from anti-Catadvocates for its openness.
Women’s Application to Seminary “Good Sign of Commitment”
In
May 2025, nine female theology students submitted applications to
Freiburg's seminary in a symbolic protest against the Church's
reservation of priestly ordination to men.
As rector of the
seminary, Bishop Würtz described the applications as "a good sign of the
commitment and seriousness with which these women are engaging with
their vocation and their path in the Church."
He added that he could not offer them admission because of the "universal law" of the Church.
Monsignor
Würtz met with the students shortly afterward for a personal exchange.
Afterward, he described it as "very respectful and honest," and both
sides indicated the exchange had been worthwhile (pictured below).
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