Hermann Volk

Cardinal Hermann Volk ( * December 27, 1903 in United - Steinheim, † July 1, 1988 in Mainz ) was from 1962 to 1982 Bishop of Mainz. Pope Paul VI. appointed the Bishop of Mainz on February 2, 1973 Cardinal.

Life

Ordination and academic career

Hermann Volk (now a district of Hanau ) was born on 27 December 1903 in Steinheim am Main. After graduation, he entered the seminary in Mainz. On April 2, 1927 he was ordained by Bishop Louis-Marie Hugo priest. Then he was from 1 May 1927 until the August 31, 1931 in Alzey Kaplan and from 1 September of the same year to April 20, 1935 in Mainz Kaplan in the parish of St. Ignatius. He was then released for further studies. Purpose he stayed at the Universities of Freiburg Fribourg and Münster. On October 12, 1938, he received his doctorate in Fribourg for Doctor of Philosophy. His dissertation dealt with the creature believes in Karl Barth. He then worked as a priest assistant in Nidda until he received his doctorate on 18 September at the University of Münster as a doctor of theology. After several temporary stations in Offenbach am Main and Gau- home he was on May 1st 1941 Parish curator in Nidda. On 20 March 1943 he habilitated at Michael Schmaus Emil Brunner's doctrine of sin.

Professor in Münster

On 11 August 1946 he was Professor of Dogmatic Theology at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität in Münster. He helped addition to his teaching also in the inner city parishes. From 1954 to 1955 he also took over the office of President of the University. For his service as a high school teacher, he was appointed on 25 February 1956 to the Pontifical House prelates. In his role as professor of dogmatic theology, he was already involved at an early stage in the planning of the Second Vatican Council. In 1960, he was therefore appointed Consultor in the Secretariat for Christian Unity. From 1966 he was a member of this Council.

Bishop of Mainz

On March 3, 1962 Hermann Volk was elected by the chapter of Mainz as the successor of the deceased on June 3, 1961 Albert Stohr. Pope John XXIII. confirmed the election on March 25, 1962 and appointed Hermann Volk so the 86th successor of St. Boniface on the Holy See of Mainz. The episcopal ordination took place in Mainz Cathedral on June 5. Consecrator was the Freiburg Metropolitan, Archbishop Hermann Schäufele.

In August of the same year was a member of the People's Faith of the German Bishops' Conference, which he remained until 1982. From 1969 to 1978 he was also Chairman of the Commission. In September 1964, he was also a member of the Liturgical Commission (until March 1978), which he also served as chairman from 1964 to 1969. The work of this Commission had particular importance, since the implementation of the liturgical reforms adopted by the Second Vatican Council took place in this period. He was also from 1962 to 1982 a member of the Ecumenical Commission and from March 1968 to May 1976 Member of the Commission for Science and Culture.

As Bishop of Mainz Hermann Volk participated until 1965 at the Second Vatican Council of 1962. There he involved himself among others in the drafting of the Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium on the Sacred Liturgy. Several times he took in so-called interventions in the plenary session of the council on important issues position.

After the Council of Mainz was chief shepherd, who is also a member of the CDF was since 1968, involved as Chairman of the Liturgical Commission of the German Bishops Conference in the implementation of the liturgical reform adopted by the Council. He was anxious to find a healthy balance between the keepers and innovators.

To achieve these and other issues took care of the Würzburg Synod, which took place from January 1971 to November 1975 and should implement the decisions of the Council in Germany. Hermann Volk was there at the property, Commission I, which should deal with the " situation faith and preaching ."

Because of his contributions to the implementation of the Council, Pope Paul VI. Posted on February 2, 1973, to want to create the Bishop of Mainz Cardinal. He was the first Cardinal since Albrecht of Brandenburg (1514-1545) Bishop of Mainz on the chair and after this, and Conrad of Wittelsbach (1183-1200) only the third Mainz Cardinal ever. The festivities appointing found on March 5, 1973 in Rome instead of where the new cardinal by Pope Paul VI. the insignia of his new dignity were presented. As titular church to him the church of Santi Fabiano Venanzio a Villa Fiorelli is assigned.

On December 5, 1964 Hermann Volk received an honorary citizen of his home town of Steinheim am Main.

1975, the year of the thousandth anniversary of the Mainz Cathedral Hermann Volk was honored on June 3, with the honorary citizenship of the city of Mainz. Three years later, he also received the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit per piis meritis Pro Merito Melitensi of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and the Grand Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, having already 1973, the Federal Cross of Merit was awarded with Star and Sash.

A year earlier tied Cardinal Volk first contacts with the Polish Episcopal Conference, and held there during a visit in the same year theological lectures to Polish professors. During the visit he also met with the archbishop of Krakow, Karol Wojtyla, who as part of a return visit Mainz also visited in September 1978. The exchange of the Polish and the German Bishops' Conference was seen as an important symbol of reconciliation between nations after the ravages of World War II.

That same year, December 27, his 75th birthday, handed Cardinal Volk accordance with the provisions of canon law in his resignation. John Paul II did not accept the request and extended the term of office of the bishop of Mainz to two years. 1980 therefore offered the Bishop again offered to resign, but was not accepted again by John Paul II. This time, the term of office was extended indefinitely. Until 1982 the Pope gave the request because of the now failing health instead of people. On December 27, 1982 ended the 20 - year term of the 86th successor Boniface.