Archbishop of Cologne

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Archbishop of Cologne

Role / Field:

The spiritual and historical leader of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cologne.

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Foundations

The Archbishop of Cologne governs the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cologne in western North Rhine-Westphalia. Historically, the archbishop was ex officio one of the prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire and ruled the Electorate of Cologne. Since the early days of the Catholic Church, there have been 94 bishops and archbishops of Cologne. Four of them resigned in response to impeachment.

Key Developments & Impact

Eight were coadjutor bishops before they took office. Seven were appointed as coadjutors freely by the pope. One moved to the Curia, where he became a cardinal. Additionally, six were chairmen of the German Bishops' Conference. Cardinal Rainer Woelki has been Archbishop of Cologne since his 2014 transfer from Berlin, where he was also cardinal-archbishop.

Enduring Legacy

All names before Maternus II are to be approached with considerable skepticism, as little contemporary evidence is available. Maternus was present at a council in Rome in 313. The bishops between Severinus and Charentius are also apocryphal. Domitianus was the Bishop of Maastricht (Mosa Traiectum). The given dates of office before Gunther are also conjectural, at...

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 2014: 2014 Milestone — Cardinal Rainer Woelki has been Archbishop of Cologne since his 2014 transfer from Berlin, where he was also cardinal-archbishop.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Archbishop of Cologne

True or False: “Historically, the Archbishop of Cologne was always one of the primary governing bodies within the Holy Roman Empire.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While the Archbishop was ex officio one of the prince-electors, the governing structure of the Holy Roman Empire was complex and involved multiple ruling bodies.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Archbishop of Cologne