Cardinal Reinhard Marx

Reinhard Marx was born in Geseke (Archdiocese of Paderborn) on September 21, 1953. He pursued his philosophical and theological studies at the Theological Faculty of Paderborn and at the *Institut Catholique de Paris*. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Paderborn on June 2, 1979. From 1979 to 1981, he served as an assistant pastor in Arolsen, and from 1981 to 1986 as the ecclesiastical assistant for the "Kommende" Social Institute in Dortmund. In 1986, he continued his studies at the University of Bochum, obtaining a Doctorate in Theology. In 1989, he was appointed Director of the aforementioned "Kommende" Social Institute. He also served as a Professor of the Social Doctrine of the Church at the Theological Faculty of Paderborn. On July 23, 1996, he was elected Titular Bishop of Pedena and Auxiliary Bishop of Paderborn; he received episcopal ordination on September 21 of that year. On December 20, 2001, he was appointed Bishop of Trier. Within the German Bishops' Conference, he serves as Chairman of the Commission for Public and Social Affairs (*Kommission für gesellschaftliche und soziale Fragen*) and Vice-Chairman of the Commission for the Church in the World. He is also the delegate of the German Bishops' Conference to the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), Chairman of the German *Justitia et Pax* Commission, and Grand Prior of the German Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He is a member of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Reinhard Marx was born on September 21, 1953, in Geseke, in the Archdiocese of Paderborn. He was ordained a priest on June 2, 1979. He served as a parish vicar in Arolsen for three years, and as ecclesiastical assistant and subsequently director of the "Kommende" Social Institute in Dortmund. He obtained his degree from the Faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Bochum in 1989. He served as Professor of Christian Sociology at the Faculty of Theology in Paderborn. Appointed Titular Bishop of Pedena and Auxiliary Bishop of Paderborn on July 23, 1996, he was consecrated on September 21 of that year. Within the Archdiocese of Paderborn, he serves as Episcopal Vicar for Society, Science, and Culture. At the national level, he is a member of the episcopal commissions for social affairs, social communications, and science and culture, as well as president of the national "Justice and Peace" commission.