Max Josef Metzger was a German Catholic priest and prominent pacifist who lived from 1887 to 1944. After serving as a military chaplain during the First World War, his experiences on the front lines led him to advocate strongly for international peace and disarmament. He was deeply involved in the Esperanto movement and worked toward the ecumenical reunification of churches. Because of his resistance against the National Socialist regime, he was arrested by the Gestapo and eventually executed in a show trial at Brandenburg-Görden Prison.
Life and activism
Ordained in 1911, Metzger dedicated his ministry to pastoral work and peace advocacy. He founded several organizations, including the International Catholic movement and the brotherhood Una Sancta, which sought to unite Catholics and Lutherans. His commitment to pacifism and his efforts to promote global peace through Esperanto made him a target of the Nazi government, leading to multiple arrests and his eventual death sentence for high treason.
Veneration
The Catholic Church recognizes Metzger as a martyr who died for the cause of peace and church unity. Following a formal recognition of his martyrdom by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, he was beatified in 2024. He is commemorated in the liturgical calendar with a feast day on 17 April, the anniversary of his execution.