Reinhard Marx
Encyclopedia
Reinhard Marx is a German
Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church
. He currently serves as the incumbent Cardinal
archbishop of Munich and Freising. Pope Benedict XVI
elevated Cardinal Marx to the cardinalate in a consistory on 20 November 2010. At the time of his elevation, Cardinal Marx became the youngest member of the College of Cardinals
, succeeding Peter Cardinal Erdo
, the Cardinal-Archbishop of Budapest, who was elevated in 2003. He is eligible to vote in all papal conclaves
which begin on or before September 21, 2033, his 80th birthday.
, North Rhine-Westphalia
, Cardinal Marx was ordained
to the priesthood
, for the Archdiocese of Paderborn
, by Archbishop Johannes Joachim Degenhardt
on 2 June 1979. He obtained a doctorate in theology
in 1989.
On 23 July 1996, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
of Paderborn and Titular Bishop
of Petina by Pope John Paul II
. Marx received his episcopal consecration
on the following 21 September (his forty-third birthday) from Archbishop Degenhardt, with Bishops Hans Drewes and Paul Consbruch serving as co-consecrators
.
He was later named Bishop of Trier (the oldest diocese
in Germany) on 20 December 2001, replacing Hermann Josef Spital nearly a year after the latter's retirement. Marx is considered to be rather conservative
in matters of Church discipline
, but also a "social scientist ... and whiz with the media". Moreover, in 2003, he suspended a theologian
for extending to Protestants
an invitation to the Eucharist
.
Pope Benedict XVI
appointed Cardinal Marx as Metropolitan Archbishop of Munich and Freising, a position that Benedict himself held from 1977 to 1981, on 30 November 2007. Rumours surrounding this were circulated before Pope Benedict's formal announcement, but Cardinal Marx responded to these by saying, "The Pope names bishops, not the press". On 2 February 2008, Marx was installed as Archbishop of Munich and Freising in the Munich Frauenkirche
. Cardinal Marx became Cardinal-Priest of San Corbiniano on 20 November 2010. Cardinal Marx's title is that of Saint Corbinian who was the first bishop of Freising and who Cardinal Marx is the successor of.
Cardinal Marx currently serves as head of the committee for social issues at the German Bishops' Conference
. In addition to his duties as archbishop of Munich on 11 December 2010, Cardinal Marx was named by Pope Benedict as a member of the Congregation for Catholic Education
for a five year renewable term. On 29 December 2010 he was appointed a member of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
.
, that critiques capitalism
. Reinhard Marx said the current worldwide financial crisis required a "fundamental social debate" and raised questions about the capacity of contemporary economies to "ensure the welfare of the world."
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He currently serves as the incumbent Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
archbishop of Munich and Freising. Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
elevated Cardinal Marx to the cardinalate in a consistory on 20 November 2010. At the time of his elevation, Cardinal Marx became the youngest member of the College of Cardinals
College of Cardinals
The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church.A function of the college is to advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. It also convenes on the death or abdication of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor...
, succeeding Peter Cardinal Erdo
Péter Cardinal Erdo
Péter Erdő is a Hungarian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as the Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, and thus Primate of Hungary...
, the Cardinal-Archbishop of Budapest, who was elevated in 2003. He is eligible to vote in all papal conclaves
Papal conclave
A papal conclave is a meeting of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a Bishop of Rome, who then becomes the Pope during a period of vacancy in the papal office. The Pope is considered by Roman Catholics to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and earthly head of the Roman Catholic Church...
which begin on or before September 21, 2033, his 80th birthday.
Biography
Born in GesekeGeseke
Geseke is a town in the district of Soest, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:It is situated approx. 12 km south-east of Lippstadt and 20 km south-west of Paderborn.- Neighbouring municipalities:* Büren* Erwitte* Lippstadt...
, North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
, Cardinal Marx was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
, for the Archdiocese of Paderborn
Bishopric of Paderborn
The Archdiocese of Paderborn is an Archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Germany; its seat is Paderborn. It was a diocese from its foundation in 799 until 1802, and again from 1821 until 1930. In 1930, it was promoted to an archdiocese...
, by Archbishop Johannes Joachim Degenhardt
Johannes Joachim Degenhardt
Johannes Joachim Degenhardt was the Archbishop of Paderborn, Germany, as well as a cardinal.-Life:...
on 2 June 1979. He obtained a doctorate in theology
Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology is a terminal academic degree in theology. It is a research degree that is considered by the U.S. National Science Foundation to be the equivalent of a Doctor of Philosophy....
in 1989.
On 23 July 1996, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Paderborn and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Petina by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. Marx received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following 21 September (his forty-third birthday) from Archbishop Degenhardt, with Bishops Hans Drewes and Paul Consbruch serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
.
He was later named Bishop of Trier (the oldest diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
in Germany) on 20 December 2001, replacing Hermann Josef Spital nearly a year after the latter's retirement. Marx is considered to be rather conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
in matters of Church discipline
Church discipline
Church discipline comes in two types: formative and corrective. Formative discipline, or discipleship, seeks to help form the character and life of the believer. In this sense, every church disciplines it members. Jonathan Leeman has noted that "every church disciplines its members formally...
, but also a "social scientist ... and whiz with the media". Moreover, in 2003, he suspended a theologian
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
for extending to Protestants
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
an invitation to the Eucharist
Eucharist (Catholic Church)
"At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood."...
.
Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
appointed Cardinal Marx as Metropolitan Archbishop of Munich and Freising, a position that Benedict himself held from 1977 to 1981, on 30 November 2007. Rumours surrounding this were circulated before Pope Benedict's formal announcement, but Cardinal Marx responded to these by saying, "The Pope names bishops, not the press". On 2 February 2008, Marx was installed as Archbishop of Munich and Freising in the Munich Frauenkirche
Munich Frauenkirche
The Frauenkirche is a church in the Bavarian city of Munich that serves as the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising and seat of its Archbishop. It is a landmark and is considered a symbol of the Bavarian capital city.The church towers are widely visible because of local height...
. Cardinal Marx became Cardinal-Priest of San Corbiniano on 20 November 2010. Cardinal Marx's title is that of Saint Corbinian who was the first bishop of Freising and who Cardinal Marx is the successor of.
Cardinal Marx currently serves as head of the committee for social issues at the German Bishops' Conference
Conference of the German Bishops
The German Bishops' Conference is the episcopal conference of the bishops of the Roman Catholic dioceses in Germany. Members include diocesan bishops, coadjutors, auxiliary bishops, and diocesan administrators....
. In addition to his duties as archbishop of Munich on 11 December 2010, Cardinal Marx was named by Pope Benedict as a member of the Congregation for Catholic Education
Congregation for Catholic Education
The Congregation for Catholic Education is the Pontifical congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for: seminaries and houses of formation of...
for a five year renewable term. On 29 December 2010 he was appointed a member of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace is a part of the Roman Curia dedicated to "action-oriented studies" for the international promotion of justice, peace, and human rights from the perspective of the Roman Catholic Church...
.
Books by Reinhard Marx
Cardinal Marx launched in October 2008 a book ("Das Kapital: A Plea for Man"), named after the work by Karl MarxKarl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
, that critiques capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
. Reinhard Marx said the current worldwide financial crisis required a "fundamental social debate" and raised questions about the capacity of contemporary economies to "ensure the welfare of the world."