Two men burst into tears the day that Pope Benedict XVI left the
Vatican on February 28. One was his driver, the other was Archbishop Georg Ganswein, his private secretary.
It was not a farewell, though, as he continues to be the pope emeritus’ personal assistant, as well as his confidante, colleague and reported best friend on earth.
Ganswein and Benedict XVI are an indestructible team, deeply united since the pope, then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, took Ganswein as his secretary in 1996.
Recently, Ganswein has been awarded the titles of Prefect of the Papal Household and Archbishop.
During the Benedict XVI era, he became the second most influential person of the Vatican, according to many political analysts.
In the days after the pope’s resignation, Ganswein was closer than ever to his mentor, helping him read and answer the messages sent by thousands of pilgrims and heads of state from around the world, said Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi.
‘Il bel Giorgio’
But if there’s something that has turned Father Georg Ganswein into a celebrity, it would be his physical attractiveness.In Italy, Vanity Fair magazine devoted the cover of their January issue to him with the headline, “Father Georg, being handsome is not a sin.” Donatella Versace noticed even earlier and created a collection inspired by his figure in 2007.
Since then, the faithful secretary of Benedict XVI is also known as “Il Bel Giorgio” (the beautiful George) and even “The Vatican’s George Clooney.”
He’s tall, gray-haired with deep blue eyes and has a charming smile. In other words, he could easily pass for an attractive, mature Hollywood star.
The Vanity Fair article, for which Ganswein didn’t pose or make any statements, drew a portrait of his youth: Long before wearing the cassock that fits him so well, he was a long-haired guy who was a fan of Pink Floyd, Cat Stevens and The Beatles. He played clarinet and loved art history.
The priest that could have been a broker
Georg Ganswein was born in Waldshut, a village in the Black Forest of Germany on July 30, 1956, son of a blacksmith and a housewife. He’s the eldest of five children and has sometimes described himself as a reliable, open and sincere person, but not very patient.In his twenties, he even considered the career of becoming a broker, but finally decided to follow a spiritual path. He was ordained in 1984. In 1993, he obtained a degree in Canon Law from the University of Munich and served as Judge in matters relating to the Catholic Church.
While Joseph Ratzinger was the highest authority of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Ganswein was appointed his secretary. They’ve stayed together since then.
So when Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI and moved to the Vatican in 2005, Father Georg Ganswein went with him.
During the few hours when he was not taking care of the Pope, he used to take off his cassock and play tennis at private clubs or ski at the Terminillo Station with his friends.
Father Georg: Being handsome ‘is not a sin’
At age 50, Father Georg Ganswein was interviewed for the German program, Vatican Radio.Far from speaking only of religion or the intricacies of Vatican policy, he didn’t avoid the questions about his sexiness: “I pretended not to listen to those comments, and over the years I’ve grown used to them.”
He defined his relationship with women as “natural” and “serene”.
But, did he ever have a girlfriend before becoming Father Georg?
Not really, according to him. Just “a few romantic friends,” he said.
In a later interview with the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, he confessed that always being pictured as a “sex symbol” was becoming a bit annoying. He encouraged his fans to pay as much attention to “the substance under the wrapper.”
But he also admitted that being praised for his beauty “is not a bad thing, in fact I’m flattered. After all, it is not a sin.”
Actually, he hopes that his public image may break some clichés about the priests.
Georg Ganswein and Joseph Ratzinger, teammates for life
These days, Father Georg Ganswein is living with Joseph Ratzinger at Castel Gandolfo, the summer residence of the Popes, on the outskirts of Rome.They are assisted by four consecrated laywomen who care for them.
Within two months, the group will move to a cloistered monastery.
There, the Pope Emeritus will be devoted to a life of prayer and spirituality.
Ganswein, according to the Vatican’s spokesman, will live there along with his faithful companion, but won’t hide himself from the world and will continue working as Prefect of the Papal Household.
Thus, Father Georg Ganswein will remain one of the most powerful men in the Vatican, and his fans will be able to admire his beauty during public appearances.
Although, ladies, if I were you, I would not have much hope.
It seems that Father Georg’s preferences go the other way.
But you know what they say, God’s ways are inscrutable.