Christian Würtz was officially introduced as Bishop of Eichstätt

Christian Würtz has officially taken up his office as Bishop of Eichstätt. In a solemn service he took a seat on the bishop's chair, the cathedra - and the people in the packed cathedral applauded. The Apostolic Nuncio in Germany, Archbishop Hubertus van Megen, had previously presented the papal certificate of appointment.

A special feature: Würtz received the rationale from his predecessor Gregor Maria Hanke. This is a shoulder decoration that, according to the diocese, today only the archbishops of Krakow and Paderborn and the bishops of Nancy-Toul and Eichstätt are allowed to wear.

Building bridges in the diocese and worldwide

Würtz, previously Auxiliary Bishop of Freiburg, is now Germany's youngest diocesan bishop at the age of 55. At the beginning of the service, Bamberg Archbishop Herwig Gössl emphasized the character of the episcopal office - a bishop does not work in the spirit of this or that "ecclesiastical political agenda" or for a specific group. It is his job to build bridges in the diocese and in the global church.

Würtz's predecessor Gregor Maria Hanke resigned from office in June 2025. Last July, Pope Leo XIV appointed Würtz as the new bishop.