Jakob Andreas Ivo Fürer (20 April 1930 – 12 July 2022) was a Swiss prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was Bishop of St. Gallen from 1995 to 2005.
Fürer was born in Gossau, Switzerland, and studied Catholic theology at Innsbruck University and canon law in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where in 1957 he earned a doctorate in canon law. He was ordained a priest on 3 April 1954. He was a chaplain in Herisau from 1958 to 1963 and in Altstätten from 1963 to 1967. He became Bishop's Secretary in St. Gallen in 1967 and then Bishop's Vicar in 1969.[1] In 1971 he helped found the Working Community of Christian Churches in Switzerland, a body of the National Council of Churches.[2] In 1972 he was the president of the Swiss and diocesan synods. He was General Secretary of the Council of the Bishops' Conferences of Europe from 1977 to 1995. He became a cathedral deacon in 1991.[1]
Fürer was elected bishop of St. Gallen on 28 March 1995 and appointed to that position the next day by Pope John Paul II. He was consecrated a bishop on 5 June 1995 by Bishop Otmar Mäder with Bishops Henri Salina and Karl Lehmann as co-consecrators.
In 1995 Fürer and Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini of Milan guided the formation of a group of about a dozen like-minded cardinals and bishops who met annually from 1995 to 2006 in St. Gallen to discuss Church reforms, including the appointment of bishops, collegiality, bishops' conferences, the primacy of the papacy, and sexual morality. They differed among themselves, but shared the view that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was not the sort of candidate they hoped to see elected at the next conclave.[3][4] Though some media reports discussed this as a conspiracy, Fürer said in 2015 that it was a circle of friends (Freundeskreis) that at first discussed Church policy and then also candidates for the papacy as the health of Pope John Paul II declined. He said it last met in 2006.[5][6]
As a member of the Swiss Bishops' Conference he was responsible for the Deaconate and Relief Services. Beginning in 1997 he headed the Secretariat of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences.[7] He submitted his resignation on his 75th birthday, and Pope Benedict XVI accepted it on 16 October 2005.[8]
In 2005, the University of Fribourg awarded him an honorary doctorate in recognition of his contribution to implementing the principles of the Second Vatican Council in Switzerland and in Europe.[9] In 2007 the University of St. Gallen named him an Honorary Senator for "his important contribution towards the promotion of openness and tolerance across the borders of denominations and cultures".[1]
From 1998 to 2009 he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Swiss Catholic Lenten Fund (Fastenopfer), a Roman Catholic charity based in Lucerne that fights hunger and poverty and promotes the development of a sustainable way of life.[citation needed] Fürer died on 12 July 2022 at the age of 92, after a years-long fight with Parkinson's disease.[10]
Selected writingsedit
Die Eigentümer der st.-gallischen Bistumsfonds und der aus Kirchengut hervorgegangenen Fonds des kath. Konfessionsteils des Kantons St. Gallen, Menziken, Herisau 1960 (Dissertation)
Die Bischofskonferenz: theologischer und juridischer Status, Patmos, Düsseldorf 1989, ISBN3-491-77774-7, edited by Hubert Müller and Hermann J. Pottmeyer
Co-author with Michael Fuss, Kurt Koch, Franz König, Guido Vergauwen: Neuevangelisierung Europas. Chancen und Versuchungen, St. Paul AG Universitätsverlag, Freiburg 1993, ISBN3-7228-0318-7
Referencesedit
^ abc(PDF). University of St. Gallen. 9 June 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
^. Kirche Heute (in German). 22 July 2011. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
^Pentin, Edward (24 September 2015). "Cardinal Danneels Admits to Being Part of 'Mafia' Club Opposed to Benedict XVI". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
^Pentin, Edward (26 September 2015). "Cardinal Danneels' Biographers Retract Comments on St. Gallen Group". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
^"Aktuelles" (in German). Bistum St. Gallen. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2017. The diocese presents an archive of its press releases. The press release of the diocese is "Sensationsmeldung?" ("Sensational News?") dated 30 September 2015 and at the bottom of that is a link to Fürer's statement "Erklärungen von em. Bischof Ivo Fürer" ("Explanations by Bishop emeritus Ivo Fürer").
^"Smoking gun? Pope Francis' critics cite new book in questioning his papacy". The Washington Post. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
^"Zeit zum Beten, Lesen, Schreiben". St. Galler Tagblatt (in German). 2 July 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
^"Rinunce e Nomine, 17.10.2005" (Press release) (in Italian). Press Office of the Holy See. 17 October 2005. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
^"Die Ehrendoktoren und Ehrendoktorinnen der theologischen Fakultät" (in German). Universität Freiburg. 22 February 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
^"Ehemaliger St. Galler Bischof Ivo Fürer verstorben". Blick (in German). 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
Further reading
Josef Osterwalder: Dem Volk Gottes dienen: Ivo Fürer, Bischof und Weggefährte, Verlag am Klosterhof St. Gallen 2005 (ISBN3-906616-69-X).
Julia Meloni, The St. Gallen Mafia: Exposing the Secret Reformist Group within the Church, Gastonia, TAN Books, 2021, 168 p. (ISBN978-1505122879).
External linksedit
"Ivo Fürer" at Catholic Hierarchy
Bishop emeritus Ivo Fürer (in German)
Radio kath.ch: Interview with Ivo Fürer, 3 April 2005: "Johannes Paul II. war ein Symbol für die Einheit", 14 April 2005 (mp3) (in German)
fürer, jakob, andreas, april, 1930, july, 2022, swiss, prelate, roman, catholic, church, bishop, gallen, from, 1995, 2005, excellency, most, reverendbishop, emeritus, gallenappointed29, march, 1995term, ended16, october, 2005predecessorotmar, mädersuccessormar. Jakob Andreas Ivo Furer 20 April 1930 12 July 2022 was a Swiss prelate of the Roman Catholic Church He was Bishop of St Gallen from 1995 to 2005 His Excellency The Most ReverendIvo FurerBishop Emeritus of St GallenAppointed29 March 1995Term ended16 October 2005PredecessorOtmar MaderSuccessorMarkus BuchelOrdersOrdination3 April 1954Consecration5 June 1995by Otmar MaderPersonal detailsBornIvo Furer 1930 04 20 20 April 1930Gossau St Gallen SwitzerlandDied12 July 2022 2022 07 12 aged 92 Gossau St Gallen SwitzerlandDenominationRoman CatholicPrevious post s General Secretary of the Council of the Bishops Conferences of Europe Contents 1 Biography 2 Selected writings 3 References 4 External linksBiography editFurer was born in Gossau Switzerland and studied Catholic theology at Innsbruck University and canon law in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University where in 1957 he earned a doctorate in canon law He was ordained a priest on 3 April 1954 He was a chaplain in Herisau from 1958 to 1963 and in Altstatten from 1963 to 1967 He became Bishop s Secretary in St Gallen in 1967 and then Bishop s Vicar in 1969 1 In 1971 he helped found the Working Community of Christian Churches in Switzerland a body of the National Council of Churches 2 In 1972 he was the president of the Swiss and diocesan synods He was General Secretary of the Council of the Bishops Conferences of Europe from 1977 to 1995 He became a cathedral deacon in 1991 1 Furer was elected bishop of St Gallen on 28 March 1995 and appointed to that position the next day by Pope John Paul II He was consecrated a bishop on 5 June 1995 by Bishop Otmar Mader with Bishops Henri Salina and Karl Lehmann as co consecrators In 1995 Furer and Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini of Milan guided the formation of a group of about a dozen like minded cardinals and bishops who met annually from 1995 to 2006 in St Gallen to discuss Church reforms including the appointment of bishops collegiality bishops conferences the primacy of the papacy and sexual morality They differed among themselves but shared the view that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was not the sort of candidate they hoped to see elected at the next conclave 3 4 Though some media reports discussed this as a conspiracy Furer said in 2015 that it was a circle of friends Freundeskreis that at first discussed Church policy and then also candidates for the papacy as the health of Pope John Paul II declined He said it last met in 2006 5 6 As a member of the Swiss Bishops Conference he was responsible for the Deaconate and Relief Services Beginning in 1997 he headed the Secretariat of the Council of European Bishops Conferences 7 He submitted his resignation on his 75th birthday and Pope Benedict XVI accepted it on 16 October 2005 8 In 2005 the University of Fribourg awarded him an honorary doctorate in recognition of his contribution to implementing the principles of the Second Vatican Council in Switzerland and in Europe 9 In 2007 the University of St Gallen named him an Honorary Senator for his important contribution towards the promotion of openness and tolerance across the borders of denominations and cultures 1 From 1998 to 2009 he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Swiss Catholic Lenten Fund Fastenopfer a Roman Catholic charity based in Lucerne that fights hunger and poverty and promotes the development of a sustainable way of life citation needed Furer died on 12 July 2022 at the age of 92 after a years long fight with Parkinson s disease 10 Selected writings editDie Eigentumer der st gallischen Bistumsfonds und der aus Kirchengut hervorgegangenen Fonds des kath Konfessionsteils des Kantons St Gallen Menziken Herisau 1960 Dissertation Die Bischofskonferenz theologischer und juridischer Status Patmos Dusseldorf 1989 ISBN 3 491 77774 7 edited by Hubert Muller and Hermann J Pottmeyer Co author with Michael Fuss Kurt Koch Franz Konig Guido Vergauwen Neuevangelisierung Europas Chancen und Versuchungen St Paul AG Universitatsverlag Freiburg 1993 ISBN 3 7228 0318 7References edit a b c Bishop Ivo Furer appointed Honorary Senator four honorary doctorates awarded PDF University of St Gallen 9 June 2007 Archived from the original PDF on 16 August 2017 Retrieved 15 August 2017 Die Okumene in der Schweiz ist ein noch junger Baum Kirche Heute in German 22 July 2011 Archived from the original on 16 August 2017 Retrieved 16 August 2017 Pentin Edward 24 September 2015 Cardinal Danneels Admits to Being Part of Mafia Club Opposed to Benedict XVI National Catholic Register Retrieved 15 August 2017 Pentin Edward 26 September 2015 Cardinal Danneels Biographers Retract Comments on St Gallen Group National Catholic Register Retrieved 15 August 2017 Aktuelles in German Bistum St Gallen 30 September 2015 Retrieved 16 August 2017 The diocese presents an archive of its press releases The press release of the diocese is Sensationsmeldung Sensational News dated 30 September 2015 and at the bottom of that is a link to Furer s statement Erklarungen von em Bischof Ivo Furer Explanations by Bishop emeritus Ivo Furer Smoking gun Pope Francis critics cite new book in questioning his papacy The Washington Post 5 December 2014 Retrieved 5 December 2014 Zeit zum Beten Lesen Schreiben St Galler Tagblatt in German 2 July 2008 Retrieved 16 August 2017 Rinunce e Nomine 17 10 2005 Press release in Italian Press Office of the Holy See 17 October 2005 Retrieved 15 August 2017 Die Ehrendoktoren und Ehrendoktorinnen der theologischen Fakultat in German Universitat Freiburg 22 February 2008 Retrieved 16 August 2017 Ehemaliger St Galler Bischof Ivo Furer verstorben Blick in German 13 July 2022 Retrieved 13 July 2022 Further readingJosef Osterwalder Dem Volk Gottes dienen Ivo Furer Bischof und Weggefahrte Verlag am Klosterhof St Gallen 2005 ISBN 3 906616 69 X Julia Meloni The St Gallen Mafia Exposing the Secret Reformist Group within the Church Gastonia TAN Books 2021 168 p ISBN 978 1505122879 External links edit Ivo Furer at Catholic Hierarchy Bishop emeritus Ivo Furer in German Radio kath ch Interview with Ivo Furer 3 April 2005 Johannes Paul II war ein Symbol fur die Einheit 14 April 2005 mp3 in German Catholic Church titlesPreceded byOtmar Mader Bishop of St Gallen1995 2005 Succeeded byMarkus Buchel Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ivo Furer amp oldid 1161601245, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
