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The Archdiocese of Cologne
The Archdiocese of Cologne is the largest diocese in Germany in terms of members. Some 2.1 million Catholics live in its 680 parishes both east and west of the River Rhine in western Germany. The city of Cologne is situated almost exactly in the middle of the archdiocese. Downstream of Cologne is Düsseldorf, capital of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia; upstream of Cologne is Bonn, the former capital of the Federal Republic of Germany. Both cities belong to the archdiocese. The area between the rivers Ruhr and Sieg is one of the most densely populated areas in Europe. To the west of Cologne is the continent's largest lignite mining district. To the east of the city are the forest-covered hills of the Bergisches Land and Oberbergisches Land regions.
Cologne Cathedral is one of the most important cathedrals in the world and one of Germany's most popular tourist destinations. It is visited by up to 6 million people from all four corners of the earth every year. The cathedral dominates the city skyline like no other building. Its spires bear witness to a long, rich tradition of faith in this episcopal see, a tradition that can be traced back to Christian antiquity. Accordingly, lively religious customs have developed in the archdiocese down through the centuries. There are, for example, somewhere in the region of 100 places of pilgrimage in the archdiocese.
Well-known names and Church figures are associated with the Archdiocese of Cologne. Probably the most famous among them are the three wise men (Magi), whose shrine is situated in Cologne Cathedral, St Albert the Great, and the Bl John Duns Scotus. These two great scholars of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries lived in Cologne and are both buried here. The Bl Adolph Kolping was born in the Archdiocese of Cologne and is buried in the Minoritenkirche (Church of the Order of Friars Minor Conventuals). Following her conversion to Catholicism, St Edith Stein entered the convent of the Discalced Carmelites in Cologne, taking the name of Teresia Benedicta of the Cross.
Since 12 February 1989, Joachim Cardinal Meisner has been archbishop of Cologne. He is the 94th bishop to succeed St Maternus on the bishop's throne in Cologne. Cardinal Meisner hails from Wrocław/Leszno and was ordained priest in 1962. He was proclaimed cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 1983. The archbishop is assisted by three auxiliary bishops: Manfred Melzer, Dr Heiner Koch, and Dr Rainer Maria Woelki. Vicar general of the archdiocese is Dr Dominikus Schwaderlapp.
From 11 to 21 August 2005, Cologne played host to the twentieth World Youth Day. The motto of this event, at which young people from all over the world celebrated their faith together, was 'We have come to worship Him' (Matt. 2: 2). Some 1.1 million people attended the event's concluding mass with Pope Benedict XVI in Marienfeld, Cologne. The Archdiocese of Cologne maintains close partner-like relations with Brazil, Burma/Myanmar, and the Archdiocese of Tokyo in Japan.
For further information, please contact:
Erzbistum Köln, Generalvikariat
Internationale katholische Seelsorge
Diakon Hans Gerd Grevelding
Marzellenstraße 32
D-50668 Köln
Germany
phone: 0049 (0) 221 16 42-19 05
mobile: 0049 (0)1520 1642190
Sekretariat IKS:
phone: 0049 (0) 221 16 42-17 15 |
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