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What the new Styrian auxiliary bishop is planning now

Johannes Freitag was previously a military chaplain and head of the "An der Eisenstraße" area.(Bild: Jürgen Fuchs)

Surprising decision in the Vatican: Johannes Freitag from Upper Styria becomes the "right hand" of Bishop Wilhelm Krautwaschl. Politically, he opposes the extreme left and right.

It is a surprising decision by the Pope: he has appointed Johannes Freitag, a priest from Upper Styria, as the new Styrian auxiliary bishop. On a day with particular personal symbolism: the day of the week corresponds to the 52-year-old's surname, and 31 January is also the day of St. John Bosco, his namesake.

However, it almost didn't work out for the Spielberg native, who was ordained a priest in 2000: "When I received a cell phone message from the Austrian nuncio, I first thought it was a joke from my friends," Freitag revealed at his inaugural press conference.

Auxiliary Bishop Freitag: "At first I thought my friends were joking. The nuncio asked me: 'What friends do you have?"(Bild: Jürgen Fuchs)

"Crying, laughter, hope, uncertainty"
His flippant answer was only met with a question mark from the nuncio. It was only when the papal ambassador asked the next day whether he would accept the invitation to the meeting in Vienna that it dawned on the theologian: "My life was turned upside down from one minute to the next!" The former head of the pastoral area "An der Eisenstraße" took an hour to think about it before accepting: "Crying, laughing, hope and uncertainty, everything was there at that moment."

Bishop Wilhelm Krautwaschl warmly welcomed the newcomer: "A great joy!"(Bild: Jürgen Fuchs)

Support during this turbulent time came from Diocesan Bishop Wilhelm Krautwaschl, who took the priest by the hand in a "fatherly and fraternal" manner: "I think he is extremely suitable for this office!" Johannes Freitag had already proven himself during his time as military chaplain (from 2021), praised Krautwaschl.

And what are the plans of the new man, who will be ordained in Graz Cathedral on 1 May? Well, the Upper Styrian wants to focus primarily on strengthening the synodal orientation of the Graz-Seckau diocese, supporting Styrian priests in their daily work and getting in touch with as many people as possible. Politically, he opposes the extreme left and right: "It becomes dangerous when the center is lost."