Konrad Zdarsa

Konrad Zdarsa (June 7, 1944 in Hainichen) is a prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of Görlitz from 2007 till 2010, when he became bishop of Augsburg.

Family Origins

Konrad Zdarsa was born on June 7, 1944, in the village of Hainichen in central Saxony. He was the seventh child of Austrian Johann Zdarsa and Bavarian Elisabeth Zdarsa (née Goppel). Konrad Zdarsa held Austrian citizenship based on his father's nationality and was able to travel abroad without restrictions even from communist East Germany.

His late maternal uncle Alfons Goppel (1905 - 1991), was a German politician in the CSU Party and Bavarian Prime Minister from 1962 to 1978. His cousin, Thomas Goppel is a German politician in the CSU.

Life

After finishing tenth grade, Zdarsa was initially prohibited from higher education and instead trained vocationally as a machinist in a factory in Hainichen. Later, after he was able to sit for his Abitur, Zdarsa studied catholic theology and philosophy at the seminary of Erfurt.

On March 16, 1974 in Dresden, Zdarsa was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Gerhard Schaffran, and he served afterward in the church of St. Franziskus Xaverius in Dresden. In 1976 he was elevated to vicar of the dome, episcopal secretary, and chair of the diocesan curia. In 1977 Zdarsa began doctoral studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he finished his dissertation in canon law in 1982 earning the title of Doctor iuris canonici. In 1985 Zdarsa received the title of “defender of the Bond” in his home diocese. In 2004 he was elevated to vicar general in Dresden-Meißen.

Bishop

On April 24, 2007, he was appointed bishop of Görlitz. Zdarsa received his episcopal consecration on the following June 23 from Georg Maximilian Cardinal Sterzinsky, archbishop of Berlin, with the bishop of Dresden-Meißen, Joachim Friedrich Reinelt, and the former bishop of Görlitz, Rudolf Müller, serving as co-consecrators.

On July 8, 2010, he was appointed bishop of Augsburg, where he was installed on the following October 23.

As a bishop he was principal consecrator of bishop Florian Wörner.

Coat of arms

Konrad Zdarsa took over his coat of arms from his time in Görlitz as bishop of Augsburg.

His motto is: “Ipse enim est pax nostra” (“He is our peace”) Epistle to the Ephesians (2,14) The colours green and blue in the coat of arms are showing the origin from Saxony and Styria, as well as Bavaria. The emblems are a dove of Peace (his hometown Hainichen), Benno of Meissen and Jacob (as a sign of the diocese, where he became bishop).