Johannes Freitag Ordained as Auxiliary Bishop in Graz Cathedral

On Thursday, the Graz Cathedral witnessed the ordination of Johannes Freitag as the new Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Graz-Seckau. The sacrament was conferred by Diocesan Bishop Wilhelm Krautwaschl, accompanied by Salzburg Archbishop Franz Lackner and Military Bishop Werner Freistetter as co-consecrators.

Bishop Freitag, who is 52 years old, has been the head of the Eisenstraße pastoral area and has served as a military chaplain and diocesan representative for radio services. His appointment was made at the request of Bishop Krautwaschl in late January, and the ordination ceremony included the traditional laying on of hands, symbolizing the apostolic succession. As Auxiliary Bishop--officially termed 'Titular and Auxiliary Bishop'--he will assist the Diocesan Bishop in the governance of the diocese.

Approximately 1,200 attendees filled the Graz Cathedral for the occasion, which included notable figures such as the Apostolic Administrator of Vienna, Josef Grünwidl, former Styrian Diocesan Bishop Egon Kapellari, and the Bishop of Graz's partner diocese in Masan, South Korea, Linus Seong-hyo Lee. Also present were Ivo Muser, the Diocesan Bishop of Bolzano-Brixen, and Wolfgang Rehner, the Styrian Protestant Superintendent, as well as various representatives from Styrian politics.

Bishop Krautwaschl emphasized that the primary duty of a bishop is to proclaim the Gospel, especially in a church that faces the challenge of balancing tradition with the need to reach out to the community.

As his episcopal motto, Freitag chose the phrase, 'The joy of the Lord is your strength,' drawing inspiration from the biblical priest Ezra, who addressed the people of Israel upon their return to a destroyed temple, encouraging them to rebuild a place for proclamation.

In his remarks, the new Auxiliary Bishop extended an invitation for dialogue to leaders across politics, business, culture, and religion. He expressed a commitment to being open to discussions and fostering collaboration, urging a collective journey toward the future. He also called for the Christian faith to be openly embraced in the face of societal challenges, encouraging respectful interactions while maintaining a strong Catholic identity in a diverse society.

Styrian Governor Mario Kunasek (FPÖ) expressed confidence that Freitag could connect with those experiencing doubt, sharing his own journey of stepping away from the Church. He indicated a desire to engage in conversations with both Freitag and Bishop Krautwaschl regarding a potential return to the Catholic Church.

A Titular Bishop does not oversee a diocese but is assigned a titular see from a historical diocese that no longer exists, in accordance with canon law. Freitag has been assigned the titular see of Guzabeta, an ancient diocese from early Christian history in the Roman province of Numidia, located in present-day Algeria. The last bishop to hold this title was Klaus Dick, who passed away in 2024.

Born in 1972 in Knittelfeld, Johannes Freitag began his theological studies at the Catholic-Theological Faculty of the University of Graz after completing his secondary education. He was ordained as a deacon in 1999 and as a priest in 2000, subsequently serving in various pastoral roles before becoming the pastor of the Trofaiach-Vordernberg-St. Peter-Freienstein parish cluster in 2006. He has led the Eisenstraße pastoral area since 2023 and has played a role in broadcasting religious services through ORF for many years. Freitag also holds an MBA from WU Vienna, obtained in 2012, and has been serving as a military chaplain in Styria since 2021, being appointed as a diocesan consistory councilor in 2023.