The Luxembourgish Catholic Church mourned not only the Pope but also Mathias Schiltz, a native of Luxembourg City who became a pastor at the age of 25. The former general vicar, who died at 92, was known for his opposition to the Convention on the separation of Church and State.
By contrast, Nelly Moia held a markedly different position towards the Church. One of Luxembourg’s first feminists, she passed away at the age of 87. Born in Esch, she developed an increasingly critical view of society in her later years, speaking out strongly on issues concerning animal welfare and environmental protection.
In 2025, Holocaust survivor Gerd Klestadt also passed away, alongside Margot Friedländer. Klestadt had been imprisoned in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp from 1943 to 1945. Until his death at the age of 92, he devoted himself to recounting his experiences and preserving the memory of the Holocaust for younger generations.
The Neudorf-born photographer Michel Medinger died in January. His work was exhibited in France, Japan, the United States, and China, and he consistently remained faithful to his distinctive style of capturing carefully composed settings. Less widely known is the fact that he was also a middle-distance runner who represented Luxembourg at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Léon Krier achieved international recognition as a traditional post-modern architect and a vocal critic of overly expansive urban planning. Commissioned by Prince Charles, he designed Poundbury as a model city intended to shape the future of urbanism. Krier passed away at the age of 79 in Palma.
Poet and writer Pierre Joris died in Brooklyn, New York. Born in 1946 in Strassen, he held both Luxembourgish and American nationality. After spending his early years in Luxembourg, he travelled extensively throughout Europe and North America. Many of his works of poetry and prose were published under the name *Joris.
Prince Frederik of Nassau’s family announced that their son passed away in March, just short of his 23rd birthday, following a battle with an incurable disease. The son of Prince Robert, a cousin of former Grand Duke Henri, he suffered from a rare genetic condition that led to organ failure. Through his foundation, the young prince actively supported scientific research into the illness.
Marcel Glesener also died in March at the age of 87 after a brief illness. A representative of the CSV in the Chamber of Deputies, he became involved in the party’s trade union at the age of 20 and later served for many years as president of the LCGB Trade Union.
Luxembourgish journalism lost one of its most prominent figures with the death of Petz Lahure. A respected sports journalist, he served as president of the sports press for nearly 30 years, covered ten Olympic Games, and had a particular passion for cycling. Born in Pétange, he passed away at the age of 79.
