{{short description|Swiss Catholic prelate (born 1968)}} {{Expand German|topic=bio|Urban Federer|September 2022|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Abbot | honorific-prefix = Monsignor | name = Urban Federer | honorific-suffix = OSB, OESSH | title = 59th Abbot of Einsiedeln Abbey & Fahr Convent | image = Abt.Urban.jpg | image_size = 200px | alt = | caption = Federer in 2016 | church = | archdiocese = | province = | metropolis = | diocese = | see = | elected = 23 November 2013 | term = <!-- or term_start / term_end --> | quashed = <!-- or | retired = --> | predecessor = | successor = | opposed = | other_post = <!---------- Orders ----------> | ordination = 11 June 1994 | ordained_by = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|08|17|df=y}} | birth_place = Zürich, Canton of Zürich,<br>Switzerland | death_date = | death_place = | nationality = Swiss | religion = Catholic Church | residence = Einsiedeln Abbey | parents = | occupation = | alma_mater = Einsiedeln Abbey Theological Home School<br>Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology<br>University of Fribourg | motto = ''Adiutor in Christo'' | signature = | signature_alt = | coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Urban Federer.svg | coat_of_arms_alt = }} '''Urban Federer''' {{post-nominals |post-noms= OSB}} {{post-nominals| post-noms= OESSH}} (born 17 August 1968) is a Swiss Benedictine prelate who has served as the abbot of Einsiedeln Abbey and Fahr Convent since 2013. Federer was formerly the prior and vicar general of Einsiedeln Abbey and the editor-in-chief of ''Salve'', the abbey's official magazine. In 2017, he was made a Knight of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem.
== Early life and family == Born in Zurich on 17 August 1968, Urban Federer is a member of the Federer family, who are part of the Bürgergemeinde of Berneck, St. Gallen, and is the brother of the Swiss politician Barbara Schmid-Federer.<ref name= srf>{{Cite web|url=https://www.srf.ch/news/wahlen/kantone-wahlen15/wahlen15-zuerich/barbara-schmid-federer-cvp-sozialliberale-quereinsteigerin|title=Wahlen15 Zürich - Barbara Schmid-Federer (CVP): Sozialliberale Quereinsteigerin|date=September 15, 2015|website=Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF)}}</ref>
Urban Federer is the great-great-grandson of the 19th-20th century politician Josef Zemp, who was the first member of a conservative party to be elected to the Federal Council of Switzerland.<ref name="srf" /> The prelate is also related to Ida Glanzmann-Hunkeler, a politician; Heinrich Federer, a Catholic priest; and Roger Federer, a former world №1 tennis player and grand slam champion, whose children he baptized.<ref name="sportskeeda">{{cite web|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/news-roger-federer-switzerland-equivalent-royal-family-uk-swiss-abbot-related-tennis-superstar|title="Roger Federer in Switzerland would be equivalent to the royal family in the UK" - Swiss abbot who is related to the tennis superstar|website=sportskeeda.com|access-date=2022-09-03}}</ref>
== Ecclesiastical career == Urban Federer attended the Einsiedeln Convent School and Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology from 1985 to 1988 before joining the Order of Saint Benedict and beginning his novitiate at Einsiedeln Abbey.<ref name= bishop>{{cite web|url=https://www.bischoefe.ch/mgr-dr-urban-federer-osb/|title=Mgr. Dr. Urban Federer OSB – Schweizer Bischofkonferenz|website=bischoefe.ch|access-date=2022-09-03}}</ref> He made his final vows on 1 November 1992 and received the sacrament of holy orders on 11 June 1994.<ref name= catholic>{{cite web|url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bfederer.html|author=David M. Cheney|website=catholic-hierarchy.org|title=Abbot Urban Federer [Catholic-Hierarchy]|access-date=2022-09-03}}</ref> He studied philosophy and theology at the abbey's theological home school and completed a licentiate degree in German studies and history at the University of Fribourg.<ref name= bishop/> He also completed Gregorian chant training in Germany.<ref name= bishop/>
In 2001, Federer worked as a religion, German language, and history teacher at the abbey's grammar school. In 2007 he received his doctorate with a dissertation in medieval German studies on mystical experience in literary dialogue between Heinrich von Nördlingen and Margaretha Ebner in the 14th century.<ref name= bishop/>
In 2010, Federer was appointed as Prior and Vicar General of Einsiedeln Abbey.<ref name= bishop/> He was made editor-in-chief of the abbey's magazine, ''Salve'', and a board member of the Einsiedler Welttheater-Gesellschaft. He is also a cantor and the choral master.<ref name= bishop/> He was elected as abbot on 23 November 2013 by fifty-five voting monks.<ref name= bishop/><ref name="nzz">{{cite web|url=https://www.nzz.ch/zuerich/aktuell/reformation-heisst-ja-nicht-trennung-ld.4256?reduced=true|title="Reformation heisst ja nicht Trennung"|website=NZZ|access-date=2022-09-03}}</ref> Pope Francis confirmed his election on 10 December 2013.<ref name=vatican>{{cite web|url=http://www.archivioradiovaticana.va/storico/2013/12/10/schweiz_neuer_abt_in_einsiedeln/ted-754367|website=archivioradiovaticana.va|title=Schweiz: Neuer Abt in Einsiedeln|access-date=2022-09-03}}</ref> His inauguration took place on 22 December 2013, performed by Bishop Markus Büchel.<ref name= catholic/> As abbot, he is also a member of the Swiss Bishops' Conference and has jurisdiction over Fahr Convent.<ref name= vatican/>
In 2017, Federer was appointed as a Knight of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem by Cardinal Edwin Frederick O'Brien and was invested into the order on 18 March 2017 at Abbey of Saint-Maurice d'Agaune by Bishop Pier Giacomo Grampa.{{cn|date=September 2022}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{wikiquote}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Federer, Urban}} Category:Living people Category:1968 births Category:20th-century Swiss Roman Catholic priests Category:21st-century Swiss Roman Catholic priests Category:Benedictine priors Category:Choristers Urban Category:Members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre Category:Clergy from Zurich Category:Swiss abbots Category:Swiss Benedictines Category:Swiss magazine editors Category:University of Fribourg alumni