Karl Lehmann

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Karl Cardinal Lehmann (2014)
Karl Cardinal Lehmann. Signature 1994

Karl Cardinal Lehmann (born May 16, 1936 in Sigmaringen ; † March 11, 2018 in Mainz ) was a German clergyman and from 1983 to 2016 Bishop of Mainz . From 1987 to 2008 he was chairman of the German Bishops' Conference . Lehmann was elevated to cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001 .

Life

Studies, ordination, professorship

Veringenstadt 1963. Primiz by Karl Lehmann. The liturgical assistants were Pastor Fridolin Abberger and Pastor Fridolin Fink.
Bishop Karl Lehmann (front row on the left in the picture), next to him Bishop Gerhard Schaffran , Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger and Joachim Cardinal Meisner at the Dresden Catholic Meeting in 1987

Karl Lehmann was born in Sigmaringen as the older of two sons and spent his childhood in Veringenstadt , where his father Karl Lehmann (1903–1986) was an elementary school teacher. The mother Margarete Lehmann (1911–1997) was a trained bookseller. His younger brother was Reinhold Lehmann (1939–1998). From 1942 to 1945 Karl Lehmann attended the Liggersdorf and Langenenslingen elementary school , where his parents also come from. When he attended the State High School in Sigmaringen, he also entered the St. Fidelis Archbishop's Home in Sigmaringen. After leaving school, Lehmann studied philosophy and Catholic theology from 1956 to 1964 at the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg and at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he lived in the Germanicum-Hungaricum . He received in Rome by the 10 October 1963 Julius Döpfner the priesthood . His first Mass he first celebrated in San Saba and then in Veringenstadt.

1962 Lehmann was from the Pontifical Gregorian University in field philosophy with a dissertation on the Origin and meaning of the question of being in the thinking of Martin Heidegger to Dr. phil. PhD. At the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965 he worked as an assistant to the theologian Karl Rahner ; His scientific assistant he was initially (1964 to 1967) at the seminar for Christian worldview and religious philosophy at the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich , later (1967) at the chair for dogmatics and the history of dogma at the Westphalian Wilhelms University in Münster . In 1967, Karl Lehmann of the Gregorian in field theology with a thesis on Raised up on the third day according to the Scriptures - Exegetical and fundamental theology studies on 1 Corinthians 15: 3b-5 for Dr. theol. Doctorate and finally released for a scientific career by the Archbishop of Freiburg, Hermann Schäufele .

In 1968 he was offered a chair for Dogmatics II at the Catholic Theological Faculty of Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz . Since Lehmann had neither obtained a doctorate nor qualified as a professor in Germany, the appointment was connected with a formal legal problem. With the help of an external report by the Tübingen dogmatics professor Joseph Ratzinger , Lehmann's teaching qualification, the Venia Legendi , was confirmed at the Mainz faculty. Since 1971 Lehmann was Professor of Dogmatics and Ecumenical Theology at the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg im Breisgau. On March 26, 1979, Pope John Paul II awarded him the title of Honorary Prelate of His Holiness . In December of the same year, Lehmann criticized the revocation of Hans Küng's church teaching license by John Paul II and described this decision as a “pitch black day for theology”.

Bishop and Cardinal

Cardinal Lehmann in white chasuble (2007)
Cardinal Lehmann (2015)

On June 3, 1983, Lehmann was elected bishop by the Mainz Cathedral Chapter , and on June 23, 1983, Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Mainz. The episcopal ordination received his his predecessor, Hermann Cardinal Volk , on 2 October of the same year in the Mainz Cathedral ; Co- consecrators were Wolfgang Rolly , auxiliary bishop in Mainz, and Oskar Saier , archbishop of Freiburg. Lehmann was the 87th successor of St. Boniface on the Mainz bishopric and at that time the youngest bishop in Germany.

After he had been deputy chairman of the German Bishops' Conference since 1985 , he was elected chairman on September 22, 1987. In 1993, 1999 and 2005 he was confirmed in this office for a further six years. The last election took place at the general assembly of the bishops on September 20, 2005 in Fulda . On January 15, 2008, he announced that he would resign on February 18 of the same year.

In 1996 Lehmann introduced a pastoral care system in the diocese of Mainz with the structural reform "... so that the community lives" , in which the individual communities work together more intensively. This pastoral reform became binding in February 2007 with the conclusion of cooperation agreements. Another significant event was the 93rd German Catholic Day in June 1998, which took place in Mainz. In January 2001 he founded the "Network Life" initiative, which campaigns for the counseling of pregnant women in the diocese after the Catholic Church in Germany from the pregnant Konfliktberatung got out.

On January 21, 2001, Pope John Paul II announced the names of 37 clergymen who were scheduled for the creation of cardinals in the consistory on February 21 and announced that the names of further cardinals would soon be announced in pectore . He implemented this announcement on January 28, 2001 and named two cardinals in pectore as well as the names of five other priests whom he had planned in pectore for appointment in the consistory on February 21, including Karl Lehmann. Lehmann was solemnly inaugurated with the rank of cardinal priest with the titular church of San Leone Magno during the consistory from February 21 to 23, 2001 together with 41 other newly appointed cardinals . After the death of Pope John Paul II, he took part in the 2005 conclave .

At the age of 75, Lehmann submitted a resignation to Pope Benedict XVI. did not admit. After the resignation of Benedict XVI. Lehmann took part in the conclave in 2013 . He welcomed the election of the new Pope Francis and spoke of a “new beginning”. He also stood behind the Pope and defended his approach at the time of the Argentine military dictatorship .

Cardinal coat of arms
Heraldic shield as a window picture in Mainz Cathedral

In an interview in the summer of 2015, Lehmann indicated that he would leave office at the age of 80 in May 2016. On May 16, 2016, the 80th birthday of Karl Lehmann, Pope Francis accepted the resignation.

Karl Lehmann's tenure was the third longest in the history of the Mainz diocese. Only Lothar Franz von Schönborn and Willigis were in office longer.

title

The official title of Lehmann since his appointment as cardinal has been:

His Eminence Karl Cardinal Lehmann, Cardinal Priest of the Holy Roman Church, through God's mercy and the grace of the Holy Apostolic See, Bishop of the Holy See of Mainz .

Academic: Karl Lehmann was honorary professor at the Universities of Mainz and Freiburg i. Br. He was promoted to Dr. phil. and Dr. theol. PhD and was awarded numerous honorary doctorates (see below) .

Coat of arms and motto

Blazon : Divided and split at the top, the Mainz wheel at the top and a slanted silver key with the beard pointing heraldically to the right (coat of arms of the former diocese of Worms ), accompanied by six golden crosses. In the lower golden shield the open red Bible with the Greek letters A and Ω . Above the coat of arms the red cardinal's hat ( Galero ) with hanging 15 red tassels (symbol of cardinal dignity). Behind the coat of arms the episcopal lecture cross as a reference to the bishop of Mainz. Under the coat of arms in the banner his motto State in Fide (“Stand firm in the faith”) comes from the 1st letter of Paul to the Corinthians ( 1 Cor 16:13  EU ).

Emeritus Bishop

In December 2016, Cardinal Lehmann became Mercator Professor in Duisburg . At his first lecture on December 13, 2016, he reiterated his rejection of an upper limit for the admission of refugees. Lehmann showed understanding for Angela Merkel's refugee policy and said: "What should Angela Merkel have done when people were in great need at our gates?"

Illness and death

At the end of September 2017, Lehmann was admitted to the Mainz Catholic Clinic after suffering a stroke and a brain hemorrhage . He was treated there until December of the same year, after which he was cared for in his home in Mainz. On March 5, 2018, the Bishop of Mainz, Peter Kohlgraf , announced that Lehmann's health was critical and asked the faithful for their prayers.

Karl Cardinal Lehmann died on March 11, 2018, Sunday Laetare , around 4:45 a.m. in the Mainz bishop's house at the age of 81. From March 13 to 20, 2018, his body was laid out in the Augustinian Church , where the people of Lehmann could say goodbye. The exequies for the late old bishop of Mainz took place on March 21, 2018. After a procession with Cardinal Lehmann's coffin, which led from the Augustinian Church via the cathedral squares of Leichhof , Höfchen , Markt and Liebfrauenplatz to the cathedral , Bishop Peter Kohlgraf celebrated the pontifical request there . The hearse was driven by Lehmann's long-time chauffeur, Klaus Ritzheim. Following the Requiem, Lehmann was buried in the cathedral's bishop's crypt above his predecessor, Cardinal Volk.

Supra-diocesan tasks

Karl Lehmann was chairman of the German Bishops' Conference (DBK) from 1987 . From 1985 to 1987 he was deputy chairman under Joseph Höffner and after his illness and his resignation from office he was also acting director until his first election as chairman on September 22, 1987. In a letter to the members of the Bishops' Conference he resigned from Chair of the German Bishops' Conference announced on February 18, 2008 for health reasons. Other offices and tasks:

Awards

Honorary doctorates

Honorary professorships

Visiting professorships

Honorary citizenships

Memberships

Karl Lehmann at the closing service of the "Days of Encounter" in the Bruchweg Stadium in Mainz (2005)

Further awards

Awarding of the European Craft Prize to Cardinal Karl Lehmann. Sitting: Cardinal Lehmann. Standing from left to right:
Hans Peter Wollseifer , laudator Andreas Ehlert , Minister Garrelt Duin , Auxiliary Bishop Manfred Melzer , Lord Mayor Jürgen Roters , in November 2014

Hessian Culture Prize

In 2009 Lehmann and representatives of other religions were scheduled for the Hessian Culture Prize . Together with Peter Steinacker, Lehmann refused a simultaneous award to Navid Kermani because of his comments on the Christian cross, which is why the award ceremony was postponed. This triggered extensive media coverage in which the attitude of Lehmann and Steinacker met with frequent opposition. Ultimately, after a conversation with Kermani, Lehmann and Steinacker decided to jointly accept the award, which was finally awarded to the four winners Lehmann, Steinacker, Kermani and Salomon Korn on November 26, 2009 .

Fonts

  • On the origin and meaning of the question of being in Martin Heidegger's thinking. Attempt to determine the location . Diss. Phil. (mach.). Pont. Univ. Gregoriana, Rome 1962; Edition in 2 volumes Mainz, Freiburg i. Br. 2003 ( full text )
  • Raised on the third day according to the scriptures. Earliest Christology, creed formation and scripture interpretation in the light of 1 Cor 15: 3–5 . 2., verb. Ed., Freiburg i. Br. 1969 ( full text )
  • Presence of Faith , Mainz 1974
  • Jesus Christ, our hope. Meditations , Freiburg i. Br. 1976
  • Joseph Ratzinger , Karl Lehmann, Herder 1977 live with the church
  • What does "eternal life" mean? (= Answer of Faith, Vol. 3), Freiburg i. Br. 1978
  • Devils, demons, obsession. To the reality of evil. Edited with Walter Kasper , Matthias-Grünewald-Verlag, Mainz 1978, ISBN 3-7867-0672-7 .
  • Marriage as a life decision (= answer of faith, vol. 15), Freiburg i. Br. 1979
  • Acting spiritually , Freiburg i. Br. 1982.
  • New courage to be church , Freiburg i. Br. 1982
  • Signals of the time - traces of salvation , Freiburg i. Br. 1983
  • Jesus wanted the church (= answer of faith, vol. 30), Freiburg i. Br. 1983
  • Doctrinal Condemnations - Church Dividing? Justification, sacraments and office in the age of the Reformation and today Karl Lehmann and Wolfhart Pannenberg, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Herder 1986.
  • Doctrinal Condemnations - Church Dividing? II Materials on doctrinal condemnations and on the theology of justification, Karl Lehmann, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Herder 1989
  • Witness faith - shape society. Reflections and Positions , 2 volumes, Freiburg i. Br. U. a. 1993
  • It is time to think of God. A conversation with Jürgen Hoeren , Freiburg i. Br. 2000
  • Courage to rethink. Clear Positions in Difficult Times , ed. by Beate Hirt, Freiburg i. Br. 2002
  • Free before God. Faith in Public Responsibility , Freiburg i. Br. 2003
  • Man, god! Spiritual impulses for the Advent and Christmas season , ed. by Michael Kinnen, 2nd edition Leipzig 2005, ISBN 3-7462-1905-1 .
  • On the way to life. Spiritual impulses for the Passion and Easter time , ed. by Michael Kinnen, Leipzig 2005, ISBN 3-7462-1784-9 .
  • Confidence from faith. The keynote speeches by the chairman of the German Bishops' Conference and the sermons of the opening services , Freiburg i. Br .: Herder, 2006
  • About the special art of being happy , Freiburg i. Br., Herder 2006, ISBN 3-451-29025-1 .
  • Courage for dialogue. Orientation for our time , ed. by Michael Kinnen, Freiburg i. Br. Herder, 2008
  • World religions: understanding, understanding, responsibility / ed. by Karl Cardinal Lehmann. Frankfurt am Main: Verlag der Weltreligionen, 2009, ISBN 978-3-458-71025-7 .
  • Paulus, teacher of the church / Karl Lehmann - Eduard Lohse. Mainz: Diocese of Mainz Publications, 2009 (Mainzer Perspektiven: Orientierungen. 7), ISBN 978-3-934450-41-7 .
  • The evil. Three approaches / Ingolf U. Dalferth - Karl Lehmann - Navid Kermani, Freiburg i. Br.: Herder, 2011, ISBN 978-3-451-34057-4 .
  • Little Companion to Opportunities of Faith and Life , ed. for the 75th birthday of the Bishop of Mainz by Barbara Nichtweiß. Mainz: Publications diocese Mainz, 2011, 192 p., ISBN 978-3-934450-48-6 .
  • Tolerance and religious freedom. Past and present in Europe. 144 pp., Herder, 2015, ISBN 978-3-451-33511-2 .
  • Explorations. Shaping life from faith today. 552 pp., Herder, 2016, ISBN 978-3-451-30505-4 .
  • What remains in change. Christianity in the Church today. 160 pp., Herder, 2016, ISBN 978-3-451-30506-1 .
  • With a lot of breath. Paths - experiences - insights. The cardinal in conversation with Markus Schächter . 272 pp., Herder, 2016, ISBN 978-3-451-34967-6 .
  • Romano Guardinis On the Spirit of the Liturgy: Origins of a New Thought for Liturgical Renewal - Then and Now. In: Archiv für Liturgiewwissenschaft 60 (2018), pp. 1–16 (posthumously).

literature

  • Daniel Deckers : The Cardinal. Karl Lehmann. A biography . Pattloch, Munich 2002, ISBN 3-629-01637-5 (paperback edition: Knaur, Munich 2004, ISBN 3-426-77690-1 )
  • Barbara Nichtweiß (Ed.): Karl Cardinal Lehmann 2001. Documentations, memories and information on the cardinal elevation of the Bishop of Mainz . Diocese of Mainz, Mainz 2001. ISBN 3-934450-05-9
  • Albert Raffelt : Karl Lehmann. Bibliography. 1962-1983 . Herder, Freiburg i. Br. U. a. 1983, ISBN 3-451-20063-5 .
  • Albert Raffelt (Hrsg.): Weg und Weite, Festschrift for Karl Lehmann . Herder, Freiburg i. Br. U. a. 2001, ISBN 3-451-27572-4 .
  • Christoph Markschies : Obituary for Cardinal Lehmann. In: Yearbook of the Academy of Sciences and Literature | Mainz. 69th year, 2018, pp. 47–50.
  • Barbara Nichtweiß (Ed.): "God is bigger than our heart". The 70th birthday of Karl Cardinal Lehmann and the Mainz diocese festival. Reports, texts, pictures. , Publications diocese Mainz, Mainz 2006, ISBN 978-3-934450-25-7 .
  • Barbara Nichtweiß (Ed.): "You show me the path to life". The silver bishop anniversary of Karl Cardinal Lehmann, the 40th anniversary of parish councils in the diocese of Mainz and the Mainz diocese festival in 2008. Reports, texts, pictures. Publications Diocese of Mainz 2008, Mainz 2008, ISBN 978-3-934450-35-6 .

Web links

Commons : Karl Lehmann  - Collection of Images

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Obituary notice of Karl Cardinal Lehmann , FAZ of March 17, 2018
  2. ^ Karl Cardinal Lehmann: Memories of his Primiz. In: bistummainz.de , accessed on March 8, 2014
  3. ↑ Cardinal Meisner's curriculum vitae ( memento from March 7, 2014 in the web archive archive.today ) on the website of the parishes Herz Jesu and St. Thomas More Obertshausen
  4. ^ Entry on the Freiburg document server
  5. ^ Entry on the Freiburg document server
  6. ↑ Annuario Pontificio per l'anno 1982 , Città del Vaticano 1982, p. 1851.
  7. ↑ CHURCH: Jet-black day. In: Der Spiegel . December 24, 1979. Retrieved August 13, 2016 .
  8. ↑ NN: Cardinal Lehmann is dead. In: Die Zeit. March 11, 2018, accessed March 11, 2018 .
  9. ↑ Angelus, Sunday, January 21, 2001. Holy See, January 21, 2001, accessed November 3, 2013 .
  10. ↑ Angelus, Sunday, January 28, 2001. Holy See, January 28, 2001, accessed November 3, 2013 .
  11. ↑ Great joy in the diocese of Mainz and beyond ( Memento from February 11, 2013 in the web archive archive.today ) In: bistummainz.de .
  12. ↑ Pope Benedict rejects his resignation. In: Stern , April 28, 2011.
  13. ↑ Der Spiegel , Edition 12/2013, March 18, 2013, p. 85.
  14. ↑ Cardinal Lehmann stands behind the Pope. In: Mainzer Rhein-Zeitung. April 8, 2013, accessed April 10, 2013 .
  15. ↑ Werner D'Inka , Peter Lückemeier : “That's how I almost think myself sometimes.” (Interview) In: faz.net , November 23, 2014, accessed on July 29, 2015.
  16. ^ Rinuncia del Vescovo di Mainz (Germania). In: Daily Bulletin. Holy See Press Office, May 16, 2016, accessed May 16, 2016 (Italian).
  17. ↑ Duisburg: Remaining human in the face of misery. In: rp-online.de , December 15, 2016
  18. ↑ Cardinal Lehmann is dead Report of the Süddeutsche Zeitung of March 11, 2018, accessed on March 11, 2018
  19. ↑ Cardinal Karl Lehmann suffers a stroke - "Condition is stable". In: Allgemeine Zeitung Mainz. October 19, 2017, accessed January 31, 2018 .
  20. ↑ Cardinal Lehmann in the hospital. Diocese of Mainz, October 19, 2017, accessed on January 31, 2018 .
  21. ↑ Cardinal Karl Lehmann: Bishop of Mainz is dead. Spiegel Online, March 11, 2018, accessed on March 11, 2018 .
  22. ↑ Kohlgraf calls on believers to pray for Cardinal Lehmann. In: press release. Diocese of Mainz, March 5, 2018, accessed on March 6, 2018 .
  23. ↑ Alexandra Eisen and Werner Wenzel: Cardinal Karl Lehmann is dead - honorary citizen and former bishop of Mainz died at the age of 81. Allgemeine Zeitung Mainz , March 11, 2018, accessed on March 21, 2018 .
  24. ↑ Cardinal Lehmann is buried in Mainz Cathedral | DOMRADIO.DE. Retrieved November 12, 2019 .
  25. ^ The funeral of Karl Cardinal Lehmann will take place on Wednesday, March 21st. In: press release. Diocese of Mainz, March 11, 2018, accessed on March 11, 2018 .
  26. ^ The chairman of the German Bishops 'Conference: To the Most Honorable Members of the German Bishops' Conference. (PDF) January 14, 2018, accessed on August 28, 2018 .
  27. ^ "In ecumenism a bridge between western and eastern thinking". Diocese of Mainz
  28. ↑ European Academy of Sciences and Arts ( Memento from June 11, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) → Karl Cardinal Lehmann → dean 2012 (VII)
  29. ↑ PAX-Bank award winners - Homepage of the Anawati Foundation. Retrieved June 19, 2012 .
  30. ↑ Awards | Cardinal Lehmann receives hammer price. In: Focus , September 5, 2013
  31. ↑ Academy of Sciences and Literature Mainz on the award, notification from March 18, 2014
  32. ↑ Awarding of the European Craftsman Award 2014. North Rhine-Westphalian Crafts Day e. V., October 23, 2014, accessed November 29, 2014 .
  33. ^ Martin Luther Medal for Cardinal Karl Lehmann. Domradio , May 13, 2016, accessed on May 13, 2016 .
  34. ↑ Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung of October 1, 2016, p. 49.
  35. ^ Lehmann's statement in the FAZ of May 20, 2009
  36. ↑ Awarding of the Hessian Culture Prize postponed ( Memento from May 16, 2018 in the Internet Archive )
  37. ↑ Lorenz Jäger: Scandal about the culture award. A German tragedy. In: FAZ , May 14, 2009, accessed on November 27, 2009
  38. ↑ Arno Widmann: Prize for Intolerance. Frankfurter Rundschau, May 15, 2009, accessed on August 28, 2018 .
  39. ↑ Christa Tilmann: Hessian State Prize: About Cross. In: Der Tagesspiegel , May 15, 2009, accessed on November 27, 2009
  40. ^ Ralf Euler, Stefan Toepfer: Hessian Culture Prize. Koch apologizes to Kermani. In: faz.net , November 26, 2009, accessed November 27, 2009
predecessor Office successor
Hermann Cardinal Volk Bishop of Mainz
1983–2016 		Peter Kohlgraf
Joseph Cardinal Höffner Chairman of the German Bishops' Conference
1987–2008 		Robert Zollitsch
personal data
SURNAME Lehmann, Karl
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Lehmann, Karl Cardinal
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German clergyman, bishop of Mainz, cardinal
DATE OF BIRTH May 16, 1936
PLACE OF BIRTH Sigmaringen
DATE OF DEATH March 11, 2018
Place of death Mainz