Franz Xaver Wernz

Franz Xaver Wernz

Franz Xaver Wernz (born December 4, 1842 in Rottweil ; † August 19, 1914 in Rome ) was the 25th general of the Societas Jesu .

Life

At the age of 14, Wernz became a novice in the Gorheim college near Sigmaringen in 1857 . After graduating from high school, Wernz mainly studied philosophy in Aachen and Maria Laach from 1861 to 1864 . After completing his studies, Wernz worked from 1864 to 1868 as a teacher at the Stella Matutina Jesuit high school in Feldkirch , Vorarlberg .

From 1868 to 1872 he studied theology again in Maria Laach . Wernz had to interrupt this study in 1870 due to his military service as a nurse. In 1871 he was ordained a priest.

From 1872 to 1873 he worked again at the grammar school in Feldkirch . In 1875 he was appointed professor of canon law at the religious colleges of Ditton Hall ( England ) and St. Benno ( Wales ) for seven years .

In 1882 Wernz accepted a position at the Papal Gregorian University and taught there as a professor of canon law until 1906. For the last two years he was the rector of this university. In 1906 he was elected to the Pontifical Commission for the Codification of Canon Law . As a member of this commission, he was also a member of the Codex Iuris Canonici .

When the 24th General of the Order, Luis Martín , died, the General Assembly elected Franz Xaver Wernz on September 8, 1906 as the Order's 25th General. At the same time as he was appointed, Vladimir Ledóchowski was appointed Secretary of the Order.

Franz Xaver Wernz died on August 19, 1914 in Rome at the age of 72. His successor was Vladimir Ledóchowski .

Works

• Jus decretallium ad usum praelectionum in scholis textus canonici sive iuris decretalium (1898–1914).

literature

• Stephan Haering :  Wernz, Franz Xaver. In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 13, Bautz, Herzberg 1998, ISBN 3-88309-072-7 , Sp. 879-881.

predecessor	Office	successor
Luis Martín García	Superior General of the Society of Jesus 1906–1914	Vladimir Ledóchowski