Diocese of Aachen

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Diocese of Aachen
Dioecesis Aquisgranensis
Statistics
Country: Germany
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Cologne
Rite: Latin Rite
Area: 3,937 km² (1,520 square miles)
Population:
  Total:
  Catholics:
2,054,000 (2005)
1,200,375 (57.6%)
Cathedral: Aachen Cathedral
Patron saint: Mary, Mother of Jesus
Parishes: 538
Diocesan Priests: 535
Ordinaries
Bishop: Heinrich Mussinghoff
Auxiliary Bishop: Johannes Bündgens,
Karl Borsch,
Gerd Dicke (emeritus)
Karl Reger (emeritus)
Vicar General: Manfred von Holtum

The Diocese of Aachen is one of 22 dioceses in Germany. It is also one of 7 dioceses that has a population that is in majority catholic, in this case 57.6 %. Nevertheless, with 11.5% this diocese has also one of the lowest numbers of worshippers on Sunday.

Contents

[edit] Geography

The diocese is located in the west of Germany, extending from the town Krefeld in the north till mountainous area of the Eifel to the south. Neighboring dioceses are Cologne, Münster, Essen and Trier in Germany, Liège in Belgium and Roermond of the Netherlands.

The diocese is subdivided into 7 regions, which are in turn further subdivided into 538 parishes.

  1. Region Aachen-Stadt (Aachen city)
  2. Region Düren
  3. Region Eifel
  4. Region Heinsberg
  5. Region Kempen Viersen
  6. Region Krefeld
  7. Region Mönchengladbach

[edit] Ordinaries

Main article: Bishop of Aachen

The bishop of Aachen is Heinrich Mussinghoff who was ordained as bishop on 11 February 1995. He is assisted by two auxiliary bishops, Johannes Bündgens and Karl Borsch. Furthermore, there are two emeritus auxiliary bishops, Gerd Dicke and Karl Reger.

The vicar general is Manfred von Holtum, who was appointed to the post on October 1 1997.

[edit] History

Coat of arms of the diocese

Historically the city of Aachen belonged to the Diocese of Liège, divided by the Archdiocese of Cologne by the Wurm River.

The diocese was first created in 1802, covering the area west of the Rhine formerly belonging to Cologne, as well as parts from the dioceses Liege, Utrecht, Roermond and Mainz. After the first bishop Marc Antoine Berdolet died in 1809, Pope Pius VII didn't approve the successor suggested by Napoleon, Jean Dénis Francois Le Camus. After the end of the French rulership over the area the diocese was abolished by the bull "De salute animarum" of July 16 1821, and included into the archdiocese of Cologne.

On August 13, 1930 by the papal bull "Pastorale officii nostri" the diocese was reerected. Joseph Vogt was appointed as its first bishop.

[edit] Major Churches

Aachen Cathedral
Aachen Cathedral

The cathedral of the diocese is the Aachen Cathedral, which was built in the year 800 by Charlemagne. It also was the first German world heritage site, inscribed in 1980.

Two churches within the diocese have received the basilica minor title by the pope.

  • Basilica SS. Potentinus, Felicius und Simplicius, Kall-Steinfeld, October 7 1960
  • Münster-Basilica St. Vitus, Mönchengladbach, April 25 1973

See also: List of Roman Catholic dioceses in Germany

[edit] External links

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Roman Catholic archdioceses and dioceses in Germany
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