Liechtenstein: Archbishop Wolfgang Haas Turns 75

However, it should be remembered that the Pope remains free to accept or refuse this resignation, and thus to prolong the presence of a bishop at the head of his diocese.

At the request of Johannes Vonderach, the former Bishop of Chur, Msgr. Haas was appointed Coadjutor Bishop in 1988 by Pope John Paul II, with right of succession, as is normally the case for a Coadjutor Bishop. The Pope thus set aside, at least for that time, the ability of the canons of the diocese of Chur to elect their bishop – subject to his acceptance by Rome.

Archbishop Haas’ conservative positions have been greatly displeasing in a diocese whose many faithful are more Protestant than the Protestants around them. The reactions were not lacking and had increased, becoming manifest acts of rebellion.

First of all, on the day of his consecration, May 22, 1988, a few hundred people lay down on the ground in front of the entrance to the cathedral, forcing the participants to step over the prostrate bodies.

Subsequently, after he took over the reins of the diocese, the faithful belonging to the Canton of Zurich refused pay to the bishop their tithes to support the diocese, instead, the money was placed in an account to which the pastor of the diocese did not have access. It was only released to Bishop Haas’ successor.

Finally, Rome decided to separate the Principality of Liechtenstein, which then belonged to the Diocese of Chur, and to appoint Msgr. Haas at its head as Archbishop of Vaduz, reporting directly to Rome. The bishop, who had been administering a diocese comprised of more than 300 priests, found himself at the head of a small structure which only included about thirty priests. The Bishop and Prince Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein were only notified at the last moment.

In this last configuration, Archbishop Haas continued to show courage. FSSPX.News recently reported on two cases where he acted like a bishop aware of his responsibility, as well as dealing with the serious wound opened by the synodal process launched by Pope Francis, in which he did not participate.

The question may indeed arise: created especially for Haas, the future of this diocese might be found in reuniting with the diocese of Chur, or perhaps maintaining the current situation.

In Liechtenstein, “some clues” are being put forward suggesting that the Holy See wishes to keep the archdiocese. But neither the apostolic nuncio nor the government have so far informed the public about the future of the Archdiocese of Vaduz.

Some commentators see the Archbishopric of Vaduz as an ideal position for Archbishop Georg Gänswein, former prefect of the Pontifical Household, who was dismissed without a mandate by Pope Francis to his home diocese of Freiburg im Breisgau.