Archbishop Georg Gänswein likens papal reassignment to being a dog chased from the courtyard

Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the former private secretary of Pope Benedict XVI, said Pope Francis recalled him to his home diocese in Freiburg without assigning a new Vatican role. He described the move as painful, comparing himself to "a dog chased from the courtyard," and said the decision left a deep wound.

Gänswein said his time in Freiburg has helped heal the emotional injuries caused by his removal from Rome. He thanked local Archbishop Stephan Burger for offering him refuge and noted that while he misses the “life‑feel” of Rome, he does not mourn the city. Approaching his 70th birthday, he announced plans to celebrate in good health and reflected on his three decades of service in the Holy See. He also mentioned his 2022 memoir, "Nothing but the Truth," which criticized the Pope.

The episode underscores tensions within the Catholic hierarchy over Pope Francis’s appointments and the legacy of former Pope Benedict XVI.