Franz Hanke, a teacher, and his wife Elisabeth lived in the Troppau district in the Sudetenland until 1946 when they were expelled and settled in Middle Franconia with their three sons and two daughters.

[2] He graduated from the Willibald-Gymnasium in Eichstätt in 1974 and then entered the diocesan seminary, studying in London for the academic year 1976/77.

He earned a diploma in theology at the Catholic University of Eichstätt in 1980, and next taught religion for the year 1980/81 at a vocational school in Roth.

[1] In 1981 he entered the Benedictine Abbey of Plankstetten and received the religious name Gregor Maria after Gregory of Nyssa.

[5] As Bishop of Eichstätt, Hanke was ex officio Grand Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt.