A Catholic priest in Germany has sent shockwaves through his congregation after revealing his direct lineage to one of history's most notorious war criminals - and disclosing an even more disturbing family secret about human remains.
The Congregation's Stunning Revelation
Father Patrick Himmler, serving in a Bavarian parish, recently gathered his congregation to deliver news that would leave them reeling. The clergyman confessed to being the biological grandson of Heinrich Himmler, the architect of the Holocaust and leader of Hitler's SS.
But the shocking family connections didn't end there. According to Father Himmler, his grandmother - Himmler's wife - allegedly kept human body parts in her home, items believed to have been sourced from victims of the Nazi regime.
A Legacy of Atrocity
Heinrich Himmler, as head of the SS and one of Hitler's most trusted deputies, was directly responsible for implementing the systematic murder of six million Jews and millions of other victims during World War II. His grandson's decision to enter the priesthood and now reveal these dark family secrets has created both controversy and sympathy within the Catholic community.
The priest described how his grandmother maintained what he called "macabre collections" that included human remains displayed as decorative items throughout her home. These grim artefacts are thought to have been obtained through Himmler's position and connections within the Nazi hierarchy.
Confronting a Dark Inheritance
Father Himmler explained to his congregation that he felt compelled to disclose his family background as part of his spiritual journey and commitment to transparency. The revelation has sparked intense debate about historical responsibility, generational guilt, and whether descendants of war criminals should bear the burden of their ancestors' actions.
"Many parishioners expressed support for the priest's courage in confronting his family's past," according to church sources, while others struggle to reconcile his spiritual role with his genetic connection to one of history's greatest monsters.
The Catholic diocese has acknowledged the situation but emphasized that Father Himmler's dedication to his religious vocation remains unquestioned, despite the shocking nature of his family history.
