Bishop Amédée was welcomed to his eternal home on Sunday evening, 19 May 2019.  He was born on 3 February 1930 in Zürich, Switzerland and was baptized the next day. He spent his childhood and days of youth in Geneva. After completing high school at the École St-Louis and the Lyceum of Einsiedeln, he joined Einsiedeln Abbey.  In 1950, he professed his temporary vows and made solemn vows three years later. In 1954, he was ordained a priest.

After studying in Perugia, Bishop Amédée became a teacher at the Collegio Papio in Ascona, where he taught until 1978. During this time, he took on numerous temporary assignments, serving as a confessor for some monasteries and communities, and also working on various diocesan commissions. He helped to prepare both the “Synod 72” and the visit of Pope Saint John Paul II to Switzerland in 1984. After further teaching at the preparatory school in Einsiedeln, he became Secretary of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference in 1984. 

In 1987, Bishop Pierre Mamie ordained him as Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Lausanne-Geneva-Freiburg, of which he became diocesan bishop in 1995. Three years later, he succeeded Bishop Wolfgang Haas as Bishop of Chur. In this role, he participated in the Synod of Bishops in Rome in 1999, 2000 and 2007. From 2001 to 2007, he also presided over the Council of the European Bishops’ Conference. In 2007, Bishop Amédée handed over the leadership of the Diocese of Chur to his successor, Bishop Vitus Huonder.

Thereafter, Bishop Amédée lived in the seminary of St. Luzi in Chur, and from 2017 in Roveredo, the last abode of his earthly life.  Bishop Amédée celebrated Easter at Einsiedeln this year. May he now enjoy the Hallelujah of the angels and join in the choir himself with his unmistakable voice.

Bishop Amédée passed away during the 90th year of his life, the 69th year of his religious profession, the 65th year of his priesthood, and the 31st year of his episcopal consecration.  A Requiem Mass will be celebrated for Bishop Amédée on Friday, 24 May 2019 at 11.15 a.m. at Einsiedeln Abbey.  His Funeral Mass will be on Monday, 27 May 2019 at 2.00 p.m. in Chur Cathedral, with interment in the bishops’ cemetery in front of the cathedral.  Mass on the thirtieth day since his passing will be held at Einsiedeln Abbey on Saturday, 22 June 2019 at 11.15 a.m., and the Mass commemorating the first year’s anniversary of his death will be celebrated on Tuesday, 19 May, 2020, 10:30 a.m. in Chur Cathedral.

20 May 2019

Abbot Urban, monastic community of Einsiedeln, and family