Pope Francis thanks the parish priest with an honorary title

The work of the outgoing Waidhofen parish priest Herbert Döller did not go unnoticed in the Vatican and was now thanked once again as he retired: Pope Francis, who had announced that he would be careful with honorary titles from now on, appointed Döller “Honorary Papal Chaplain”. This title is only awarded to deserving clergymen over the age of 65.

The Pope’s reticence has given the title, which had already often become a sign of old age, a new lease of life. A person honored in this way does not gain any advantages from the appointment, especially not financial ones. The late timing of the award is intended to be recognition of a clergyman’s life’s work in service beyond his own parish. In Döller’s case, this is undoubtedly the case: as an educator and director of the Episcopal Seminaries in Zwettl and Seitenstetten, he had worked to train young priests in the diocese of St. Pölten. Döller was also dean of the Waidhofen deanery for almost thirty years, the longest period of time to date in this position.

As a canon, although he lives outside the bishop’s seat, Döller belongs to the cathedral chapter, the bishop’s advisory circle. The new “monsignor” from Waidhofen, as the “honorary chaplain” is to be regarded, is not so proud of the title, but is particularly pleased by the “connection to Pope Francis” it expresses.

“Monsignor” Herbert Döller,
the outgoing parish priest of
Waidhofen an der Ybbs practices modesty