Our guest on 20.12.2009 Dr. Karl Jüsten, Prelate and Head of the Commissariat of German Bishops, or the Catholic Office in Berlin

Karl Jüsten could be described as the chief lobbyist of the Catholic Church in Germany. For nine years now he has been head of the Catholic Office in Berlin, the interface between Catholic bishops and the German government, parliament and political parties. Politicians have great respect for the theologian’s competence and ease in the role of interlocutor. Not that the 48-year-old is afraid to criticize policies on abortion, refugees or poverty. Jüsten, who is without any party affiliation, has been a vociferous representative of the Catholic Church’s position on many key issues, especially as Christmas approaches.Karl Jüsten often rushes to appointments in Berlin’s government quarter on his Vespa. The 48-year-old is an extremely busy man. He’s the eye and the ear of his Church among politicians, political advisor to bishops and a lobbyist who ensures the concerns of the Catholic Church are heard. He is also the politicians’ very own pastor and confessor.

This diverse job was the result of an initiative by Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Konrad Adenauer, who needed a contact person within the Church. Karl Jüsten has served in the post since the government moved from Bonn to Berlin 10 years ago. The German bishops were taking a risk appointing him. Jüsten had no major political experience, and had thus far only operated within the Church. But because he didn’t have a previous track record in the field, the young priest also represented an opportunity to bring fresh impetus to the role.

The son of a doctor who grew up as one of six children initially wanted to study medicine, but eventually opted for the priesthood. He studied theology at Freiburg University from 1980 to 1982. He continued his studies in Innsbruck with the great theologian Karl Rahner, and in Bonn. Jüsten became chaplain in Cologne in 1987, and in 1990 at the age of 29, prefect at Cologne seminary. He’s been deputy head of the department overseeing pastoral personnel at the Archdiocesan general vicariate since 1996.

He took up his post at the Catholic Office in Berlin in the year 2000, bringing just three colleagues with him from Bonn. Jüsten had to build up the office from scratch. One particular experience from his college days in Austria helped him to overcome the challenge. Back then, he was taught how to ski by the nephew of legendary world champion Toni Sailer. “It was the all-or-nothing approach – straight down a steep, difficult slope,” says Jüsten, an approach that’s so far been very useful in his career to date.