Benoît Gschwind, first Assumptionist religious appointed bishop of a French diocese

Born in Basel in 1963, this Franco-Swiss person has multiplied his services within the Church. Ordained priest in 1991, Benoît Gschwind then joined the Assumptionist community of Soisy-sur-Seine (Essonne) and worked as a guide to the diocesan public education chaplaincy. In 1999, he joined Bayard Presse in the editorial office of Prions en Église, which he supervised the following year as editor-in-chief. In 2005, he became director of liturgical journals for the press group for almost six years.

At the same time, this former scout became national chaplain of the Scouts de France for the 11-15 year old branch between 2004 and 2008 before becoming deputy chaplain general from 2008 to 2011. He also got involved in his congregation by becoming provincial of France of the Augustins of the Assumption from 2011 to 2014 before gaining the title of provincial of Europe until 2017. Since then, he has been in charge of the Saint-Augustin de l’Aqueduc parish in Montpellier, which he will leave soon to be ordained bishop at Mirepoix Cathedral, at the age of 60, on November 26.