Archbishop Kothgasser nun pastor in the city of Salzburg
Salzburg/Innsbruck, December 27, 2022 (KAP) The former Archbishop of Salzburg, Alois Kothgasser, moved into the Salzburg seminary after his return from Tyrol. Now the Salesian Don Boscos focuses on pastoral care, as he told the church newspaper “Rupertusblatt” of the Archdiocese of Salzburg (current issue). “Pastoral care is important to me: in the house and wherever help is needed.” He had already lived that way in the diocese of Innsbruck and in the Tyrolean part of the archdiocese. He no longer bears direct responsibility for Sunday services or festivals in the parishes and can be there as a pastor. “That was always crucial for me as a priest,” said Kothgasser.
In any case, he wants to take on temporary workers and “in between, if Archbishop Lackner needs something, I’ll be there, of course.” Archbishop Kothgasser would like to allow himself more time for his books and above all for reading biographies in the future. He made a large part of his books available to everyone in the library of the seminary. “I want to keep up to date, for example with ecumenism. In addition, there are numerous invitations in Salzburg. But I also need rest to collect my life,” he said.
The “fresh start” in the Salzburg seminary was made easy for him. “I’ve always had a lot to do with the training of priests.” That was also a motive for his move. “I’m well integrated.” He experiences the international community, consisting of the leadership, the 15 seminarians, a new priest and the guest priests from abroad, who have been pastorally active in their home country for a long time and are now doing their doctorate here, as “mutual enrichment”.
During the past few years, Archbishop Kothgasser lived in Baumkirchen (Tyrol) with the Don Bosco Sisters. It was important to him to give his successor Franz Lackner “enough time to settle in and take things into their own hands. That requires physical distance, complete freedom, that was clear to me.” Now it was time to return to Salzburg.” He also presented Archbishop Franz Lackner with his request to spend the last part of his life in the archdiocese to which he belongs.
Rosary “is a power”
The current crises are about nothing less than the whole of creation and all of humanity, said Kothgasser. “I think it takes an intense effort on the part of politicians who really care about humanity. And we have to try to shape our lives in such a way that it brings peace to all of humanity. We have influence there, we just have to use it. ” , he underlined. For example, prayers are needed, he is convinced: “The rosary is a power that changes people’s minds and hearts, geared towards peace.”
Alois Kothgasser was born on May 29, 1937 in Lichtenegg (Styria). Published in Turin and Rome. From 1982 to 1997 he was professor of dogmatics and twice rector at the Philosophical-Theological University of Benediktbeuern in Bavaria, from 1997 to 2002 bishop of Innsbruck. November 23 marked the 25th anniversary of his episcopal consecration. Since taking office on January 10, 2003 and inauguration on January 19, Alois Kothgasser has been Archbishop of Salzburg. He retired in 2013. Around his 85th birthday on May 29, 2022, he announced that he would be returning to Salzburg.