On Saturday, 4 July 2026, Fr. Placidus (Egon) Berger, OSB, was called by the Lord to eternal glory at Münsterschwarzach Abbey. He was born in 1933 in Würzburg and grew up in Ebrach, near the former Cistercian Abbey. He entered Münsterschwarzach Abbey in 1952, made his monastic profession in 1953, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1958.
In 1965 he was sent as a missionary to Korea, where he devoted more than two decades of his life to pastoral care, theological education, and spiritual formation. He served as parish priest in Waegwan, lecturer in liturgy and patrology at the Theological Institute in Daegu, visiting professor at Daegu University, chaplain to the United States Army, and director of the retreat house in Waegwan. His wide-ranging ministry reflected his deep commitment to the Church and to the Benedictine mission.
Returning to Germany in 1986, Fr. Placidus joined St. Ottilien Archabbey in 1988, where he served as Congregation Secretary and Procurator General under Archabbot Notker Wolf. When Archabbot Notker was elected Abbot Primate in 2000, Fr. Placidus accompanied him to Rome. He served as Secretary of Abbot Primate Notker and also as Procurator General of the Benedictine Confederation. After returning to Germany, he faithfully served as chaplain to the community of Kirchschletten Abbey from 2004 until his retirement in 2017. We give thanks for his long life of dedicated monastic service and commend him to the mercy and everlasting peace of God.