Fernand Franck

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fernand Franck (born 6 May 1934 in Esch-sur-Alzette) is a Luxembourgian Roman Catholic priest. He is currently the Archbishop of Luxembourg, the highest position in the Roman Catholic Church in Luxembourg, a position that he has held since 21 December 1990.

He was born in Esch-sur-Alzette, and attended primary and secondary school in Esch-sur-Alzette and seminary in Luxembourg and Münster, Germany. Ordained a priest in 1960, Franck's first assignment was as associate pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Differdange, where he served until 1971. He then became pastor at St. Cuningundis Parish in Clausen, and also served as National Director for the Catholic Action of Children in Luxembourg and the Pontifical Mission Aid Society.

In 1977, Franck was appointed Secretary General of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith at the Vatican and served as Secretary General of the Society of St. Peter the Apostle in Rome. His mission led him to visit many countries across every continent. In conjunction with these offices, he was also named Ecclesiatical Councellor at the Embassy of Luxembourg at the Holy See and was a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications at the Vatican.

Pope John Paul II appointed him Archbishop of Luxembourg on 21 December 1990 and was ordained a Bishop on 2 February 1991 at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City. His motto Ut unum sint, (English: that they may be one, (John 17: 11) has inspired his pastoral leadership and his constant dedication to both the local and central Church. He serves on different European Episcopal Commissions and is a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications since 1999. He is the Grand Prior of the Luxembourg Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

Sacred Heart University, which operates an overseas campus in Luxembourg, recognised his outstanding leadership and his ongoing support of the laity in the Church by offering him a Doctorate in Humane Letters, honoris causa in 2003.