Munich, December 22 – Pope Leo XIV has honored four priests of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising with the ecclesiastical title of Monsignor, acknowledging their dedicated service and contributions. The appointments were made following a proposal by Archbishop Cardinal Reinhard Marx. The newly appointed Papal Chaplains are Father Hans Huber (68), retired Father and Spiritual Director Johannes Kurzydem (68), Father Josef Riedl (69), and retired Father and Spiritual Director Klaus Günter Stahlschmidt (83). Archbishop Marx presented the awards on Saturday, December 20, during a ceremony at the Bishop’s House in Munich.
Father Hans Huber: A Career of Pastoral Leadership and Theological Scholarship
Father Hans Huber, born in Furth, Mühldorf am Inn district, in 1957, was ordained a priest in Freising in 1983. After serving as a chaplain in Kirchheim and Vaterstetten, Father Huber pursued advanced studies in Pastoral Theology in Würzburg, earning his doctorate in theology in 1991. His extensive career includes roles as parish priest in Moosinning and Eichenried, priestly leader of pastoral care in the Waakirchen parish association, head of the Seeon and Obing parish association, district rural chaplain for the Rosenheim district, and dean of the Baumburg deanery and district dean of the Traunstein district. From 1995 to 2005, he was responsible for supporting pastoral workers in the archdiocese as head of the “Institute for Further Education and Training of Pastoral Professions of the Archdiocese.” Father Huber also served on the Priests’ Council of the Archdiocese from 2009 to 2019. Currently, he leads the Oberes Inntal parish association.
Father Johannes Kurzydem: From Poland to Munich, Dedicated Service
Father Johannes Kurzydem, born in Rybnik, Poland, in 1957, was ordained in Krakow in 1982. He served for three years as a chaplain and children’s hospital chaplain in Wrocław (formerly Breslau) and from 1985 as procurator at the Vincentian seminary in Krakow. In 1989, he moved to Munich, initially serving as a parish vicar in St. Mauritius Munich, then as a chaplain in Erding, Traunstein-Haslach, and various other Munich parishes. In 2012, he took over the leadership of the Fasanerie-Feldmoching parish association, and from 2013, the Munich-St. Matthäus and St. Agnes parish association. In recognition of his commitment, he was awarded the title “Geistlicher Rat” (Spiritual Director) in 2013. In 2018, Father Kurzydem assumed leadership of the PACEM-Munich-Nord-Feldmoching parish association. Until 2023, he also served as dean of the Munich-Feldmoching deanery.
Father Josef Riedl: A Life of Diverse Ecclesiastical Roles
Father Josef Riedl, born in Sonnenholzen near Wasserburg am Inn in 1956, was ordained a priest in Freising in 1982. He subsequently served as a chaplain in northern Munich, Berg am Laim, and Feldmoching, where he also functioned as a deanery youth chaplain. From 1987 to 1992, he headed the Diocesan Office for Church Vocations and was director of the St. Matthias Late Vocations Seminary in Wolfratshausen-Waldram and foundation director of the St. Matthias Foundation (1992-2002). In the Ebersberg district, he served as praeses for the local Catholic Workers’ Movement and, until autumn this year, as dean of the Ebersberg deanery. He led the Moosach and Grafing parish associations and will continue to serve as parish priest of Ebersberg-St. Sebastian and as head of the Steinhöring parish association, the Kirchseeon-St. Joseph parish, and the Zorneding-St. Martin parish until his retirement in early next year. Additionally, Father Riedl was an elected spiritual representative on the Diocesan Tax Committee and a member of the Asset Management Council of the Archbishop’s See for many years.
Father Klaus Günter Stahlschmidt: A Socially Engaged Spiritual Leader
Father Klaus Günter Stahlschmidt, born in Paderborn in 1942, was ordained a priest in Freising in 1977. He served as a chaplain in Gräfelfing and Landshut. From 1982 until his retirement in 2017, he led the Munich parish of Leiden Christi and was dean of the Munich-Menzing (2003-2005) and Munich-Nymphenburg (2005-2012) deaneries. In 2011, he was awarded the title “Geistlicher Rat” (Spiritual Director). From 2011 to 2017, he led the Menzing parish association. Father Stahlschmidt is also a recipient of the Bavarian State Medal for Social Services. Beyond his retirement, he continues to serve as a spiritual counselor, notably as a pastoral companion for the “Bereaved Parents and Grieving Siblings Munich” association.
These appointments highlight the archdiocese’s recognition of the priests’ long-standing commitment and invaluable service to the Church and its communities.
Source: Archdiocese of Munich and Freising/Robert Kiderle
