Beat Grögli
Beat Grögli | |
|---|---|
| Bishop-Elect of St. Gallen | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Appointed | 22 May 2025 |
| Predecessor | Markus Büchel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 September 1970 Wil, St. Gallen, Switzerland |
| Motto | Latin: In concordiam Christi, lit. 'Toward the harmony of Christ'[1] |
Beat Grögli (born 20 September 1970) is a Swiss Roman Catholic priest and bishop-elect of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Gallen as well as apostolic administrator of Appenzell.
Life
Beat Grögli was born in Wil on 20 September 1970,[2] the eldest of three boys born to Anton and Rita Grögli-Büeler. After his early schooling in Wil, he spent three years as a boarder at the Untere Waid Gymnasium in Mörschwil. He graduated from the Friedberg Gymnasium in Gossau in 1991 and then interned for a year at a social education facility for children and young people in Lucerne.[3] From 1992 to 1997 he studied philosophy and theology at the University of Fribourg and University of Innsbruck as well as psychology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.[2][3] He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Saint Gallen by Bishop Ivo Fürer in St. Gallen Cathedral on 16 August 1998.[3]
He served as vicar of St. Otmar parish in St. Gallen from 1998 to 2003 and then undertook additional training in psychology at the Gregorian from 2003 to 2006. Returning to Switzerland, he worked from 2006 to 2013 in the parishes of Rotmonten and Heiligkreuz, and part-time in the interdiocesan program in Chur. In 2013, Bishop Markus Büchel named him a member of the cathedral chapter and cathedral priest, and he joined the diocesan leadership team. In 2018, the role of dean for pastoral care was added to his responsibilities.[3]
The cathedral chapter of the diocese elected him bishop[a] on 20 May 2025,[b][6] and on 22 May Pope Leo XIV appointed him bishop of St. Gallen, a position which entails as well the responsibilities of apostolic administrator of the two semi-cantons of Appenzell.[2] The Neue Zürcher Zeitung described him as "an unknown quantity" with respect to current Church issues, but thought to be "in the moderate camp".[5]
His episcopal consecration is scheduled for 5 July 2025,[7] when he will become the youngest bishop in Switzerland.[5]
Views
Grögli has expressed optimism about the eventual ordination of women, without actively advocating for the practice.[8]
In a personal statement after his election, Grögli affirmed that he considers the church as having a "wide roof" under which it can invite different people and concerns "without losing depth or focus". He also expressed his support for synodality in the Catholic Church.[9]
Notes
References
- ^ "Bischof Beat Grögli". Bistum St. Gallen (in German). Römisch-katholisches Bistum St. Gallen. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ a b c "Resignations and Appointments" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. Archived from the original on 22 May 2025. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Bistumsleitung erw. Bischof Beat Grögli". Diocese of St. Gallen (in German).
- ^ "Beat Grögli ist neuer Bischof von St. Gallen" (in German). Swiss Bishops Conference. Wie funktioniert eine Bischofswahl in St. Gallen?. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
- ^ a b c Rostetter, Andri (23 May 2025). "Neue Hirten, Alte Lasten". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ "Pope Leo XIV-approved Bishop of St. Gallen elected". swiss info.ch. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ "Dompfarrer Beat Grögli wird neuer Bischof von St.Gallen". Diocese of St. Gallen (in German). 22 May 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ Freudiger, Nicole. "Neuer St. Galler Bischof - Der künftige Bischof Beat Grögli muss viele Erwartungen erfüllen". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). Schweizerischen Radio- und Fernsehgesellschaft. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
- ^ "Erwählter Bischof Beat Grögli: Bistum St.Gallen". www.bistum-stgallen.ch. Retrieved 2025-06-18.