Joachim Meisner

Joachim Meisner (25 December 1933 – 5 July 2017) was a German Catholic prelate who held significant positions within the Church, most notably serving as the Archbishop of Cologne from 1989 to 2014. He was widely recognized as Germany's leading conservative Catholic figure during his lifetime.

Early Life and Ordination

Born in Breslau, Germany (modern Wrocław, Poland), Meisner pursued his theological studies in East Germany at the seminary of Erfurt from 1959 to 1962. He was ordained a deacon on 8 April 1962 and a priest on 22 December 1962 by Bishop Josef Freusberg. Following his ordination, he served as a chaplain in Heiligenstadt and Erfurt between 1963 and 1975, also acting as the diocesan director of Caritas. During this period, he earned a doctorate of theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1969.

Episcopal and Cardinalate Career

In 1975, Meisner was elected titular Bishop of Vina and auxiliary bishop to the Apostolic Administrator of Erfurt-Meiningen. He represented the Fourth Synod of Bishops at the Vatican in 1977, where he reconnected with Karol Wojtyła. In 1980, as Pope John Paul II, Wojtyła appointed Meisner as Bishop of Berlin and elevated him to the rank of Cardinal-Priest of Santa Pudenziana on 2 February 1983.

After the death of Joseph Höffner, Meisner was appointed Archbishop of Cologne in 1988, a position he held until his retirement. He played a role in significant Church events, including participating in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI and overseeing the XX. World Youth Day in Cologne in August 2005, which drew over a million attendees. Pope Benedict XVI also appointed him as a Synod Father for the October 2012 Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

Later Years and Views

In 2013, Meisner addressed the sensitive issue of the "morning after pill" for rape victims, issuing an apology and approving its use under specific circumstances, a policy later endorsed by the German Bishops' Conference. He participated in the 2013 papal conclave that elected Pope Francis and was among the cardinals who made the public act of obedience at the new Pope's inauguration. Meisner turned 80 on 25 December 2013, automatically losing his right to participate in future conclaves, and submitted his resignation, which was accepted on 28 February 2014.

Meisner was known for his strong support of the Pope and Church teachings, maintaining close relationships with Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. His views on culture and liturgy, particularly his criticism of modern art, sometimes drew negative reactions. He was also among the cardinals who submitted "dubia" (doubts) to Pope Francis regarding the apostolic exhortation "Amoris laetitia" in 2016.

Meisner died on 5 July 2017, while vacationing in Bad Füssing, Bavaria. In 2020, Cardinal Woelki accused Meisner of covering up sexual abuse.

Select Published Works

• Die Fürstin und der Kardinal: Ein Gespräch über Glauben und Tradition, with Princess Gloria of Thurn and Taxis (2008)