Archbishop Wagner: Memories and some open questions

On Tuesday, the memorial book for the 100th birthday of Archbishop Alois Wagner, who died in 2002, was presented in the bishop’s hall of the Linz seminary. “A Bishop for the World” is the title and is about the phases of the popular churchman’s life – with guest contributions collected by Franz X. Rohrhofer and Helmut Wagner. In addition to Diocesan Bishop Manfred Scheuer, his 91-year-old predecessor Maximilian Aichern was also there at the presentation, who – although he was using a walker but otherwise fit – emphasized how fairly Wagner had treated him when he took office, despite his disappointment. The fact that Abbot Aichern should lead the diocese after Franz Zauner instead of Wagner sparked violent reactions at the end of 1981 and beginning of 1982. There was talk of “exile” or “go away to Rome”. As he writes in his article, the then state governor Josef Ratzenböck considered flying to Rome at the urging of Wagner supporters and voicing the concerns of Catholics in the country. Then he left it. His successor Josef Pühringer opposes assumptions that conservative ÖVP members had thwarted Wagner’s appointment.

• Read more: Memorial Day for Bishop Wagner

Critics also have their say, according to the later company and prison pastor Hans Gruber. Although Wagner tried to calm the minds of those opposed to reform in the synod he organized, he exploited his episcopal power on the question of the continued employment of laicized priests. Wagner made the best of the disappointment of not being ordered. He became an authority on global development cooperation and a Vatican diplomat.

The book is available for 32 euros in bookstores and at Wagner Verlag in Linz.