Köln {Cologne} (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Joachim Meisner, Cardinal, Archbishop
Heiner Koch, Auxiliary Bishop
Manfred Melzer, Auxiliary Bishop
Rainer Woelki, Auxiliary Bishop
Klaus Dick, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 8th Century
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Germany
Square Kilometers: 6,181 (2,387 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.erzbistum-koeln.de/
Mailing Address: Erzbischofliches Generalvikariat, Marzellenstrasse 32, D-50668 Koln, Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Telephone: (0221)16.420
Fax: 16.42.17.00

Historical Details

Diocese of Köln
- Latin Name: Coleniensis
- Erected: 2nd Century
- Country: Germany

Past and Present Ordinaries

Dietrich Graf von Moers † (24 Apr 1414 Appointed - 24 Jan 1446 Resigned)
Ruprecht Pfalzgraf von Rhein † (30 Mar 1463 Appointed - 16 Jul 1480 Died)
Hermann Landgraf von Hessen † (11 Aug 1480 Appointed - 19 Oct 1508 Died)
Philipp Herr von Daun-Oberstein † (13 Nov 1508 Appointed - 12 Feb 1515 Died)
Hermann Graf zu Wied † (14 Mar 1515 Appointed - 16 Apr 1546 Resigned)
Adolf Graf von Schaumberg † (17 Sep 1547 Succeeded - 20 Sep 1556 Died)
Anton Graf von Schaumberg † (26 Oct 1556 Appointed - 18 Jun 1558 Died)
Johann Gebhard Graf von Mansfeld † (26 Jul 1558 Appointed - 2 Nov 1562 Died)
Friedrich Graf zu Wied † (19 Nov 1562 Appointed - 25 Nov 1567 Resigned)
Salentin Graf von Isenburg † (23 Dec 1567 Appointed - 13 Sep 1577 Resigned)
Gebhard Truchseß von Waldburg † (5 Dec 1577 Appointed - 1 Apr 1583 Resigned)
Ernst Herzog von Bayern † (2 Jun 1583 Appointed - 17 Feb 1612 Died)
Ferdinand Herzog von Bayern † (17 Feb 1612 Succeeded - 13 Sep 1650 Died)
Max Heinrich Herzog von Bayern † (13 Sep 1650 Succeeded - 3 Jun 1688 Died)
Joseph Clemens von Bayern von Wittelsbach † (19 Jul 1688 Appointed - 11 Dec 1723 Died)
Clemens August Maria Herzog von Bayern † (11 Dec 1723 Succeeded - 6 Feb 1761 Died)
Max Friedrich Reichsgraf von Königsegg und Rothenfels † (6 Apr 1761 Appointed - 15 Apr 1784 Died)
Max Franz (Maximilian Franciscus) von Habsburg-Lothringen (Österreich) † (15 Apr 1784 Succeeded - 29 Jul 1801 Died)
Ferdinand August Graf Spiegel † (24 Dec 1824 Appointed - 2 Aug 1835 Died)
Klemens August Freiherr Droste zu Vischering † (1 Dec 1835 Appointed - 19 Oct 1845 Died)
Johannes von Geissel † (19 Oct 1845 Succeeded - 8 Sep 1864 Died)
Paul Ludolf Melchers, S.J. † (8 Jan 1866 Appointed - 3 Jul 1885 Resigned)
Philipp Krementz † (30 Jun 1885 Appointed - 6 May 1899 Died)
Hubert Theophil Simar † (24 Oct 1899 Appointed - 24 May 1902 Died)
Antonius Hubert Fischer † (6 Nov 1902 Appointed - 30 Jul 1912 Died)
Felix von Hartmann † (29 Oct 1912 Appointed - 11 Nov 1919 Died)
Karl Joseph Schulte † (8 Mar 1920 Appointed - 11 Mar 1941 Died)
Josef Frings † (1 May 1942 Appointed - 10 Feb 1969 Retired)
Joseph Höffner † (24 Feb 1969 Succeeded - 14 Sep 1987 Retired)
Joachim Meisner (20 Dec 1988 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Köln
2nd Century	Erected		Diocese of Köln (erected)
Archdiocese of Köln {Cologne}
8th Century	Elevated	Diocese of Köln	Archdiocese of Köln {Cologne}
1 November 787	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Köln {Cologne}	Diocese of Bremen(-Hamberg) (erected)
29 November 1801	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Köln {Cologne} Diocese of Liège	Diocese of Aachen (erected)
16 August 1821	Territory Added	Diocese of Aachen (suppressed)	Archdiocese of Köln {Cologne}
13 August 1930	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Köln {Cologne}	Diocese of Aachen (erected)
23 February 1957	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Köln {Cologne} Diocese of Münster Archdiocese of Paderborn	Diocese of Essen (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Archdiocese of Köln {Cologne}

1950 2,973,012 4,797,231 62.0% 1,929 513 2,442 1,217 680 9,012 707 ap1951

1969 2,712,000 5,075,000 53.4% 1,610 782 2,392 1,133 5 1,322 6,880 801 ap1971

1980 2,531,845 5,050,601 50.1% 1,397 698 2,095 1,208 106 979 4,643 796 ap1981

1990 2,465,000 5,000,000 49.3% 1,186 595 1,781 1,384 204 913 3,066 815 ap1991

1999 2,320,000 5,300,000 43.8% 1,063 424 1,487 1,560 292 575 2,561 806 ap2000

2000 2,301,000 5,325,000 43.2% 1,040 424 1,464 1,571 286 576 2,465 802 ap2001

2001 2,280,000 5,300,000 43.0% 992 373 1,365 1,670 290 507 2,305 797 ap2002

2002 2,250,000 5,300,000 42.5% 986 391 1,377 1,633 295 547 2,266 790 ap2003

2003 2,232,000 5,320,000 42.0% 977 389 1,366 1,633 289 550 2,088 780 ap2004

2004 2,220,000 5,400,000 41.1% 943 397 1,340 1,656 289 561 2,046 767 ap2005

2006 2,191,905 5,360,000 40.9% 906 382 1,288 1,701 295 525 1,931 743 ap2007

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Köln {Cologne}
1950	2,973,012	4,797,231	62.0%	1,929	513	2,442	1,217		680	9,012	707	ap1951
1969	2,712,000	5,075,000	53.4%	1,610	782	2,392	1,133	5	1,322	6,880	801	ap1971
1980	2,531,845	5,050,601	50.1%	1,397	698	2,095	1,208	106	979	4,643	796	ap1981
1990	2,465,000	5,000,000	49.3%	1,186	595	1,781	1,384	204	913	3,066	815	ap1991
1999	2,320,000	5,300,000	43.8%	1,063	424	1,487	1,560	292	575	2,561	806	ap2000
2000	2,301,000	5,325,000	43.2%	1,040	424	1,464	1,571	286	576	2,465	802	ap2001
2001	2,280,000	5,300,000	43.0%	992	373	1,365	1,670	290	507	2,305	797	ap2002
2002	2,250,000	5,300,000	42.5%	986	391	1,377	1,633	295	547	2,266	790	ap2003
2003	2,232,000	5,320,000	42.0%	977	389	1,366	1,633	289	550	2,088	780	ap2004
2004	2,220,000	5,400,000	41.1%	943	397	1,340	1,656	289	561	2,046	767	ap2005
2006	2,191,905	5,360,000	40.9%	906	382	1,288	1,701	295	525	1,931	743	ap2007

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Klaus Dick (Priest: 24 Feb 1953; Auxiliary Bishop: 17 Mar 1975 to 24 Feb 2003)
Friedhelm Hofmann (Priest: 3 Feb 1969; Auxiliary Bishop: 25 Jul 1992 to 25 Jun 2004)
Heiner Koch (Priest: 13 Jun 1980; Auxiliary Bishop: 17 Mar 2006)
Hubert Luthe (Priest: 2 Jul 1953; Auxiliary Bishop: 28 Oct 1969 to 18 Dec 1991)
Joachim Meisner (Archbishop: 20 Dec 1988 - )
Manfred Melzer (Priest: 1 Feb 1972; Auxiliary Bishop: 9 Jun 1995)
Norbert Trelle (Priest: 2 Feb 1968; Auxiliary Bishop: 25 Mar 1992 to 29 Nov 2005)
Rainer Woelki (Priest: 14 Jun 1985; Auxiliary Bishop: 24 Feb 2003)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Johann Heinrich von Anethan † (Auxiliary Bishop: 7 Jan 1680 to 18 Jun 1693)
Paul Aussem † (Auxiliary Bishop: 19 Oct 1676 to 24 Nov 1679)
Johann Anton Friedrich Baudri † (Priest: 26 Apr 1827; Auxiliary Bishop: 28 Sep 1849 to 29 Jun 1893)
Clemens August Maria Herzog von Bayern † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 9 May 1722; Archbishop: 11 Dec 1723; Priest: 4 Mar 1725; Archbishop: 9 Nov 1727 to 6 Feb 1761)
Ernst Herzog von Bayern † (Archbishop: 2 Jun 1583 to 17 Feb 1612)
Ferdinand Herzog von Bayern † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 19 Apr 1595; Archbishop: 17 Feb 1612 to 13 Sep 1650)
Max Heinrich Herzog von Bayern † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 10 Feb 1642; Archbishop: 13 Sep 1650; Priest: 27 Sep 1651; Archbishop: 8 Oct 1651 to 3 Jun 1688)
Joseph Clemens von Bayern von Wittelsbach † (Archbishop: 19 Jul 1688; Priest: 24 Dec 1706; Archbishop: 1 May 1707 to 11 Dec 1723)
Karl Adalbert Freiherr von Beyer, O. Praem. † (Priest: 1806; Auxiliary Bishop: 30 Jul 1826 to 21 Apr 1842)
Peter Cornelius Beyweg † (Priest: 1693 to 9 Jun 1700)
Johannes Boßmann † (Priest: 23 May 1821 to 25 Jun 1858)
Franz Rudolf Bornewasser † (Priest: 10 Mar 1894; Auxiliary Bishop: 23 Apr 1921 to 27 Feb 1922)
Otto Wilhelm Reichsgraf von Bronckhorst zu Gronsfeld, S.J. † (Priest: 7 Nov 1676 to 2 Jan 1693)
Joseph Ludwig Buchkremer † (Priest: 10 Aug 1923 to 28 Oct 1961)
Hilger de Burgis, O. Carm. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 1446 to 1 Nov 1452)
Johann Peter Burmann † (Auxiliary Bishop: 13 Sep 1694 to May 1703)
Anton Gottfried Claessen † (Priest: 6 Mar 1812; Auxiliary Bishop: 25 Jul 1844 to 29 Sep 1847)
Johann Wilhelm Cleven † (Priest: 14 Aug 1921; Auxiliary Bishop: 18 Nov 1950 to 27 Jul 1983)
Theobald Craschel † (Auxiliary Bishop: 5 May 1574 to 31 Jul 1587)
Philipp Herr von Daun-Oberstein † (Archbishop: 13 Nov 1508 to 12 Feb 1515)
Johann Franz Drepper † (Priest: 13 Dec 1809 to 1824)
Klemens August Freiherr Droste zu Vischering † (Archbishop: 1 Dec 1835 to 19 Oct 1845)
Johannes Dyba † (Priest: 2 Feb 1959 to 25 Aug 1979)
Laurentius Fabritius † (Auxiliary Bishop: 23 Mar 1588 to 22 Jul 1600)
Joseph Ferche † (Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Mar 1947 to 23 Sep 1965)
Antonius Hubert Fischer † (Priest: 2 Sep 1863; Auxiliary Bishop: 14 Feb 1889; Archbishop: 6 Nov 1902 to 30 Jul 1912)
Franz Kaspar von Franken-Siersdorf † (Priest: 2 Jul 1712; Auxiliary Bishop: 12 Jun 1724 to 6 Feb 1770)
Josef Frings † (Priest: 10 Aug 1910; Archbishop: 1 May 1942 to 10 Feb 1969)
Augustinus Frotz † (Priest: 26 Oct 1930; Auxiliary Bishop: 7 Aug 1962 to 30 May 1983)
Anton Ignaz Reichsgraf von Fugger-Glött † (Priest: 26 Sep 1734 to 18 Jan 1769)
Franz Egon Fürst von Fürstenberg † (Priest: 16 Oct 1660 to 19 Jan 1663)
Johannes von Geissel † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 24 Sep 1841; Archbishop: 19 Oct 1845 to 8 Sep 1864)
Ägidius Gelenius † (Priest: 16 Mar 1619 to 29 Nov 1655)
Karl Klemens Reichsfreiherr von Gruben † (Priest: 27 Dec 1787 to 1 Jun 1795; Auxiliary Bishop: 26 Jul 1801 to 24 Dec 1824)
Gereon Otto Freiherr von Gutmann zu Sobernheim † (Auxiliary Bishop: 13 Jul 1616 to 25 Sep 1638)
Max Franz (Maximilian Franciscus) von Habsburg-Lothringen (Österreich) † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 7 Aug 1780; Archbishop: 15 Apr 1784; Priest: 21 Dec 1784; Archbishop: 8 May 1785 to 29 Jul 1801)
Giuseppe Hammels † (Auxiliary Bishop: 14 Jan 1924)
Felix von Hartmann † (Archbishop: 29 Oct 1912 to 11 Nov 1919)
Hermann Landgraf von Hessen † (Archbishop: 11 Aug 1480 to 19 Oct 1508)
Joseph Höffner † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 6 Jan 1969; Archbishop: 24 Feb 1969 to 14 Sep 1987)
Franz Karl Joseph Fürst von Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst † (Priest: 7 Apr 1787 to 9 Aug 1802)
Friedrich Hünermann † (Priest: 5 Sep 1909 to 3 Dec 1938)
Salentin Graf von Isenburg † (Archbishop: 23 Dec 1567 to 13 Sep 1577)
Walter Theodor Jansen † (Priest: 15 Jul 1951; Auxiliary Bishop: 19 May 1983 to 15 Jun 1994)
Karl Aloys Graf von Königsegg und Rothenfels † (Priest: 25 Mar 1750; Auxiliary Bishop: 12 Mar 1770 to 24 Feb 1796)
Max Friedrich Reichsgraf von Königsegg und Rothenfels † (Archbishop: 6 Apr 1761 to 15 Apr 1784)
Martin Konrad † (Priest: 27 Feb 1836 to 29 Jan 1856)
Philipp Krementz † (Archbishop: 30 Jun 1885 to 6 May 1899)
Peter Joseph Lausberg † (Priest: 21 Nov 1875; Auxiliary Bishop: 1 May 1914 to 30 Aug 1922)
Johann Gebhard Graf von Mansfeld † (Archbishop: 26 Jul 1558 to 2 Nov 1562)
Godefroid-Udalric de la Margelle † (Auxiliary Bishop: 3 Dec 1696 to May 1703)
Paul Ludolf Melchers, S.J. † (Archbishop: 8 Jan 1866 to 3 Jul 1885)
Christian Albert Anton von Merle † (Priest: 23 Jul 1730 to 12 Apr 1734)
Klemens August Maria Freiherr von Merle † (Priest: 1 Sep 1755; Auxiliary Bishop: 24 Jul 1797 to 4 Jan 1810)
Dietrich Graf von Moers † (Archbishop: 24 Apr 1414; Priest: 22 Sep 1414; Archbishop: 3 Feb 1415 to 24 Jan 1446)
Joseph Müller † (Priest: 13 Mar 1869; Auxiliary Bishop: 30 Apr 1903 to 21 Mar 1921)
Peter Nettekoven † (Priest: 25 Jul 1940; Auxiliary Bishop: 17 Mar 1975 to 23 Apr 1975)
Berthold Nihus † (Priest: 1648 to 21 Apr 1655)
Johann Nopel (Sr.) † (Auxiliary Bishop: 29 Oct 1539 to 6 Jul 1556)
Johann Nopel (Jr.) † (Auxiliary Bishop: 10 Sep 1601 to 6 Jan 1605)
Quirin Op dem Veld von Willich † (Auxiliary Bishop: 25 Oct 1521 to 9 Nov 1537)
Richard Pauli-Stravius † (Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Oct 1641 to 24 Jan 1654)
Johann Pennarius, O.F.M. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 6 Oct 1557 to 11 Sep 1563)
Josef Plöger † (Auxiliary Bishop: 9 May 1975 to 15 Apr 1991)
Johann Peter von Quentell † (Priest: 1673 to 16 May 1698)
Ruprecht Pfalzgraf von Rhein † (Archbishop: 30 Mar 1463 to 16 Jul 1480)
Theodor Riphaen † (Auxiliary Bishop: 30 Aug 1606 to 14 Jan 1616)
Adolf Graf von Schaumberg † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 17 Dec 1533; Priest: 3 May 1547; Archbishop: 17 Sep 1547 to 20 Sep 1556)
Anton Graf von Schaumberg † (Archbishop: 26 Oct 1556 to 18 Jun 1558)
Johannes Schleeter, O.F.M. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 24 Oct 1434 to 29 May 1457)
Hermann Joseph Schmitz † (Priest: 7 Apr 1866; Auxiliary Bishop: 28 Aug 1893 to 21 Aug 1899)
Leopold Heinrich Wilhelm von Schorror † (Priest: 2 Oct 1728 to 15 Dec 1728)
Karl Joseph Schulte † (Archbishop: 8 Mar 1920 to 11 Mar 1941)
Hubert Theophil Simar † (Priest: 2 May 1859 to 25 Jun 1891; Archbishop: 24 Oct 1899 to 24 May 1902)
Johann Spender, O.F.M. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 4 Nov 1482 to 5 Dec 1503)
Ferdinand August Graf Spiegel † (Priest: 6 Dec 1799; Archbishop: 24 Dec 1824 to 2 Aug 1835)
Johann Sternenberg † (Priest: 19 Mar 1616 to 7 Oct 1647)
Wilhelm Stockums † (Priest: 15 Mar 1902; Auxiliary Bishop: 9 Feb 1932 to 5 Aug 1956)
Joseph Stoffels † (Priest: 28 Mar 1903; Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Nov 1922 to 17 Oct 1923)
Hermann Joseph Sträter † (Priest: 14 Mar 1891; Auxiliary Bishop: 19 Jun 1922 to 16 Oct 1931)
Ernst Tewes, C.O. † (Priest: 16 Feb 1934 to 1939)
Gebhard Truchseß von Waldburg † (Archbishop: 5 Dec 1577; Priest: 19 Mar 1578; Archbishop: 29 Feb 1580 to 1 Apr 1583)
Heinrich Unkel, O.F.M. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 1481 to 22 Jan 1482)
Johannes Joseph van der Velden † (Priest: 24 Jun 1915 to 7 Sep 1943)
Johannes Petrus Verhorst † (Priest: 3 Feb 1686 to 24 Nov 1687)
Johannes Werner Reichsritter von Veyder † (Auxiliary Bishop: 12 Nov 1703 to 30 Oct 1723)
Joseph Vogt † (Priest: 19 Aug 1888 to 10 Dec 1930)
Adrian Walenburch † (Auxiliary Bishop: 8 Aug 1661 to 12 Sep 1669)
Peter Walenburch † (Priest: 30 Mar 1641 to 28 Jan 1658; Auxiliary Bishop: 1670 to 21 Dec 1675)
Theodor Wichwael, O.S.A. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 2 Aug 1504 to 3 Mar 1519)
Friedrich Graf zu Wied † (Archbishop: 19 Nov 1562 to 25 Nov 1567)
Hermann Graf zu Wied † (Archbishop: 14 Mar 1515 to 16 Apr 1546)

Archdiocese of Köln {Cologne}

Archidioecesis Coleniensis