At his own request: Eichstätt Bishop Hanke resigns

Bishop Gregor Maria Hanke of Eichstätt has resigned. This was announced by the diocese and the Vatican on Pentecost Sunday. The diocese explained that Hanke had asked Pope Francis to release him from office at his own request. The head of the Church accepted the resignation shortly before Easter "nunc pro tunc" - i.e. on a date yet to be determined. This date is Pentecost Sunday:"On Pentecost Sunday, I will return my office as bishop into the hands of the Holy Father," said Hanke according to his press office. He therefore wants to return to pastoral care.

"My decision has a long history, which was accompanied by a spiritual struggle," the bishop emphasised in his diocese's press release. After more than 30 years in leadership responsibility, the time has now come to "let go" and return to pastoral care. "This step, which was the result of a deep spiritual struggle, is fuelled by the desire to be there for people more directly again - as a priest and spiritual guide, no longer as a decision-maker in the foreground," said the bishop.

As a "simple Father Gregor"

He will return to pastoral care as a "simple Father Gregory". "The longing to feel the heartbeat of the Church moves me," said the Benedictine, referring to the late Pope Francis. In future, he wants to work directly with people again in a pastoral area outside the diocese. "Being close to people as a pastor - that's what I want to realise in the remaining, hopefully sprightly years of my life as Father Gregor, before I return to my monastic community later on." To this end, he no longer wishes to wear pontifical insignia or fulfil pontifical functions in future - "unless my successor expressly asks me to".

The crises of his time in office, such as the abuse scandal, the conflicts surrounding the management of the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt and the financial scandal of the diocese, had also led him to resign and "honestly assess his position". "I won't hide the fact that I feel an inner fatigue after the many challenges, scandals and unresolved conflicts." The conversations with those affected by abuse in particular have changed a lot in him.

An official farewell during a church service is planned for 6 July. At Hanke's request, there will not be a grand farewell."In view of the current situation of the church, I consider a simple farewell to be an appropriate form," he emphasised. "It is important for the local church in Eichstätt to look to the future."

HTML-Elemente (z.B. Videos) sind ausgeblendet. Zum Einblenden der Elemente aktivieren Sie hier die entsprechenden Cookies.

Hanke will be 71 years old in July and has led the diocese for over 18 years. According to canon law, bishops are required to submit their resignation to the Pope when they reach their 75th birthday. On 14 October 2006, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Hanke as the successor to Walter Mixa as Bishop of Eichstätt. On 2 December 2006, the Benedictine was consecrated bishop by the then Archbishop of Bamberg, Ludwig Schick. He had previously headed the Benedictine abbey of Plankstetten as abbot from 1993 to 2005.

At the beginning of November 2024, Hanke underwent a routine operation in a Regensburg hospital. Due to "serious but manageable complications", he was unable to work for longer than originally planned and was only able to resume his duties in mid-December.

Already talked about resigning in 2024

He had previously spoken publicly about the fact that he had considered resigning immediately after the financial scandal in the diocese of Eichstätt was uncovered. However, the lawyers he had instructed had advised him against it at the time. "They said: if you do that, there will be no further clarification and no new regulations."

As a bishop, he was particularly committed to ecology and the preservation of creation. Most recently, Hanke was one of four bishops who did not want to participate in the Synodal Committee of the Church in Germany. (cbr)