Diocese of Sankt Gallen, Switzerland 🇨🇭

Continent: West Europe

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Sankt Gallen (Deutsch) / San Gallo (Italiano) / Sancti Galli (Latin)

Immediately subject to the Holy See

Neighbouring Dioceses: Basel (↖), Feldkirch (→), Vaduz (↘), Chur (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Notes: United æque principaliter with Chur 1823.07.02–1847.04.08

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Gallus (October 16)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1823.07.02: Established as Diocese of Sankt Gallen (Deutsch) / San Gallo (Italiano) / Sancti Galli (Latin) (from Diocese of Chur and without ecclesiastical province)
1866: Gained territory from Diocese of Chur

Present Prelates

Bishop (2025.05.22 – ...):

Bishop Beat Grögli (55)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Sankt Gallen (Roman Rite)

Bishop Beat Grögli (55)
(2025.05.22 – ...)

Bishop of Sankt Gallen (Switzerland)

In corcordiam Christi

Born:	1970.09.20 (Wil, Switzerland)
Ordained Priest:	1998.08.16
Consecrated Bishop:	2025.07.05

Bishop of Sankt Gallen (Switzerland) (2025.05.22 – ...)

Bishop Markus Büchel (76)
(2006.07.06 – 2025.05.22)

Bishop emeritus of Sankt Gallen (Switzerland)

In gaudio et spe

Born:	1949.08.09 (Rüthi, Switzerland)
Ordained Priest:	1976.04.03
Consecrated Bishop:	2006.09.17

Priest of Sankt Gallen (Switzerland) (1976.04.03 – 2006.07.06)

Bishop of Sankt Gallen (Switzerland) (2006.07.06 – 2025.05.22)

Vice-President of Conference of Bishops of Switzerland (2010 – 2012.09.05)

President of Conference of Bishops of Switzerland (2012.09.05 – 2016.01.01)

Vice-President of Conference of Bishops of Switzerland (2019.01.01 – 2025.01.01)

Bishop Ivo Fürer
(1995.03.29 – 2005.10.16)

Populo Dei inservire

Born:	1930.04.20 (Gossau, Switzerland)
Ordained Priest:	1954.04.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1995.06.05
Died:	2022.07.12 (Gossau, Switzerland † 92)

Priest of Sankt Gallen (Switzerland) (1954.04.03 – 1995.03.29)

General Secretary of Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (1977 – 1995.03.29)

Bishop of Sankt Gallen (Switzerland) ([1995.03.28] 1995.03.29 – 2005.10.16)

Bishop Otmar Mäder
(1976.03.25 – 1994.09.24)

In fide spe et caritate

Born:	1921.11.15 (Mörschwil, Switzerland)
Ordained Priest:	1947.03.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1976.05.02
Died:	2003.04.25 († 81)

Bishop of Sankt Gallen (Switzerland) ([1976.03.23] 1976.03.25 – 1994.09.24)

President of Conference of Bishops of Switzerland (1979 – 1983)

Bishop Joseph Hasler
(1957.04.18 – 1976.03.24)

Prodesse magis quam præesse

Born:	1900.04.22 (Altstätten, Switzerland)
Ordained Priest:	1926.03.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1957.05.26
Died:	1985.12.20 († 85)

Bishop of Sankt Gallen (Switzerland) ([1957.04.16] 1957.04.18 – 1976.03.24)

Bishop Josephus Meile
(1938.09.26 – 1957.01.06)

In justitia et caritate

Born:	1891.07.24 (Mosnang, Switzerland)
Ordained Priest:	1917.03.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1938.10.16
Died:	1957.01.06 († 65)

Bishop of Sankt Gallen (Switzerland) ([1938.09.20] 1938.09.26 – 1957.01.06)

Bishop Alois Scheiwiler
(1930.08.28 – 1938.07.20)

Justitia et pax

Born:	1872.04.04 (Gossau, Switzerland)
Ordained Priest:	1896.03.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1930.10.05
Died:	1938.07.20 († 66)

Bishop of Sankt Gallen (Switzerland) ([1930.06.23] 1930.08.28 – 1938.07.20)

Bishop Robert Bürkler
(1913.12.16 – 1930.05.28)

Consilio et fortitudine

Born:	1863.03.06 (Rorschach, Switzerland)
Ordained Priest:	1888.03.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1914.02.01
Died:	1930.05.28 († 67)

Bishop of Sankt Gallen (Switzerland) ([1913.10.28] 1913.12.16 – 1930.05.28)

Bishop Ferdinand Rüegg
(1906.05.16 – 1913.10.13)

Gratia et pax

Born:	1847.04.20 (Goldingen, Switzerland)
Ordained Priest:	1870.11.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1906.06.10
Died:	1913.10.13 († 66)

Bishop of Sankt Gallen (Switzerland) ([1906.03.27] 1906.05.16 – 1913.10.13)

Bishop Augustin Egger
(1882.07.03 – 1906.03.12)

Juste et pie

Born:	1833.08.06 (Unterschönau, Switzerland)
Ordained Priest:	1856.05.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1882.08.06
Died:	1906.03.12 († 72)

Bishop of Sankt Gallen (Switzerland) ([1882.05.25] 1882.07.03 – 1906.03.12)

Bishop Carl Johann Greith
(1863.03.13 – 1882.05.17)

Born:	1807.05.25 (Rapperswil, Switzerland)
Ordained Priest:	1831.05.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1863.05.03
Died:	1882.05.17 († 74)

Bishop of Sankt Gallen (Switzerland) ([1862.09.11] 1863.03.13 – 1882.05.17)

Bishop Johann Peter Mirer
(1846.10.10 – 1862.08.30)

Born:	1778.10.02 (Obersaxen, Switzerland)
Ordained Priest:	1800.12.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1847.06.29
Died:	1862.08.30 († 83)

Bishop of Sankt Gallen (Switzerland) (1846.10.10 – 1862.08.30)

Bishop Kaspar de Carl ab Hobenbalken
(1844.01.09 – 1846.10.10)

Born:	1781.03.27 (Tarasp, Switzerland)
Ordained Priest:	1804.12.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1843.11.19
Died:	1859.04.19 († 78)

Titular Bishop of Hippus (1843.01.27 – 1844.01.09)

Coadjutor Bishop of Chur (Switzerland) (1843.01.27 – 1844.01.09)

Bishop of Sankt Gallen (Switzerland) (1844.01.09 – 1846.10.10)

Bishop of Chur (Switzerland) (1844.01.09 – 1859.04.19)

Bishop Johann Georg Bossi
(1835.04.06 – 1844.01.09)

Born:	1773.08.10 (Mons, Switzerland)
Ordained Priest:	1797.04.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1835.07.05
Died:	1844.01.09 (Chur, Switzerland † 70)

Bishop of Chur (Switzerland) (1835.04.06 – 1844.01.09)

Bishop of Sankt Gallen (Switzerland) (1835.04.06 – 1844.01.09)

Bishop Karl Rudolf von Buol-Schauenstein
(1823.07.02 – 1833.10.23)

Born:	1760.06.30 (Innsbruck, Austria)
Ordained Priest:	1783.06.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1794.10.05
Died:	1833.10.23 († 73)

Bishop of Chur (Switzerland) ([1794.01.22] 1794.09.12 – 1833.10.23)

Bishop of Sankt Gallen (Switzerland) (1823.07.02 – 1833.10.23)

Special Churches

Cathedral, World Heritage Site: Kathedrale St. Gallus und Otmar, Sankt Gallen, Sankt Gallen
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (149)

Basel (↖), Feldkirch (→), Vaduz (↘), Chur (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 2,429 km²

Population: 238,094 Catholics (39.4% of 604,788 total)

Pastoral Centres: 142 parishes

Personnel: 130 priests (78 diocesan, 52 religious), 36 deacons, 267 religious (72 brothers, 195 sisters), 9 seminarians