2026 EXHIBIT
There Is No Greater Love
The Journey to Holiness of Franz and Franziska Jägerstätter
The exhibit traces the extraordinary journey of Franz and Franziska Jägerstätter, an Austrian couple whose ordinary rural life rooted in their Catholic faith became a path to holiness.
"Franz was a young Austrian who, because of his Catholic faith, made a conscientious objection to the injunction to swear allegiance to Hitler and go to war. As a boy, he was cheerful, likeable and carefree, but as he matured, thanks also to his wife Franziska, with whom he had three children, he changed his life and developed profound convictions. When called to arms, he refused, because he felt it was unjust to kill innocent lives. His decision triggered harsh reactions towards him from his community, the mayor, and even members of his family. A priest tried to dissuade him for the sake of his family. Everyone was against him, except his wife Franziska, who, despite knowing the price to be paid, always stood by her husband and supported him to the end. Despite cajoling and torture, Franz preferred to be killed than to kill." (Message of Pope Francis to participants in the EU Youth Conference in Prague. July 6, 2022)
Franz was beatified in 2007, with Franziska present. Their witness speaks to the power of belonging to the truth and to one another, facing the circumstances of life and history.
