ZIRKEL, GREGOR. - Bishop, b. at Sylbach (Franconia) on 28 Sept. (or 2 Oct.) 1762, d. at Würzburg on 18 Dec. 1817.
Ordained priest at Würzburg in 1786, he spent his entire life in that city, first as professor of Oriental languages and theology, then as rector of its Seminary, and finally as auxiliary bishop with the title of Hippos in paribus infidelium. Bishop-elect of Speyer, he died before taking possession of his Cathedral.
Although in his youth he had inclined towards rationalism, he later corrected his errors and took his place among the most resolute apologists of the Church and of its rights, both in the theological and philosophical fields and in the political one. Z. in fact lived during the turbulent age of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic conquests, and worked tirelessly in defence of Catholicism. A respected adviser to Crown Prince Luigi and Queen Carlotta, he contributed to the downfall of the minister Count Massimiliano di Montgelas, who had reformed Bavarian legislation in a liberal sense and proclaimed the equality of all religions before the State. Promoter of a Catholic league, a most eloquent speaker and a forceful writer, he played a major part in the conclusion of the Concordat of 1817 between Bavaria and the Apostolic See. He wrote a Geschichte des Patronatsrechtes (1806) and a volume on Die deutsche katholische Kirche (1817). He also left exegetical works and printed sermons, as well as numerous articles.