Franz-Josef Overbeck

The Bishop of Essen is the sixth Catholic military bishop of the German armed forces and an influential voice on issues of peace and responsibility. Franz-Josef Overbeck has visited German forces abroad several times, including in Afghanistan, and campaigns for greater social recognition of veterans, many of whom suffer from the psychological consequences of their work. At the same time, Overbeck regularly voices critical opinions on security policy issues, such as the responsibility associated with using drones or AI in the military. When it comes to compulsory military service, the 61-year-old is in favor of sharing the burden across society as a whole and refuses to make this an issue solely for younger generations.