Berlin Conference of Bishops

The Berlin Conference of Bishops was the meeting of Roman Catholic bishops of the GDR from 1976 until 1990.

When, after the Wall in 1961, the division of Germany was solidified and the participation of the bishops of the GDR was prevented at the German Bishops' Conference, led the pastoral needs to be of a meeting of the East German bishops, first the Berlin Ordinarienkonferenz.

In the following years, the pressure of the government of the GDR rose to the Apostolic See, set up their own Bishops' Conference to as " auctoritas territorialis "; on July 10, 1974 spread the Ambassador of the GDR in Italy to the Holy See the formal proposal of the GDR government to lead discussions at foreign minister level. Although the (West ) German Bishops 'Conference considered this approach to be conducive, it came on 26 July 1976 on the erection of the Berlin Conference of Bishops as a standalone, but not as a national Bishops' Conference of the GDR.

Great importance was attached to the wording in the Statute of the German Bishops' Conference, which was confirmed by the Holy See on 25 September 1976. Article 1 specifies the German Bishops' Conference as the " merger of the bishops of the dioceses in Germany ". So According to this formulation included the bishops on the territory of the GDR continued to the German Bishops' Conference. The Bishop of Berlin was officially a member of the German Bishops' Conference and was represented by his West Berlin Vicar General.

In 1990, after the reunification of Germany, and Berlin German Bishops 'Conference of German Bishops' Conference were pooled.

Chairman

• Alfred Bengsch Cardinal, Bishop of Berlin (1976-1979)
• Gerhard sheep Francisco, Bishop of Dresden- Meissen (1980-1982)
• Joachim Meisner, Bishop of Berlin (1982-1989)
• Joachim Wanke, Apostolic Administrator of the Bishop's Office Erfurt -Meiningen (1989, acting)
• Georg Sterzinsky, Bishop of Berlin (1989-1990)

Structure

The canonical norm on the territory of the GDR was complicated. Only the Diocese of Meissen was entirely on the territory of the GDR. The diocese also included Berlin West Berlin. Görlitz, formerly part of the Archdiocese of Breslau, was the Archbishop's Office, later Apostolic Administration.

The other areas were canonically to dioceses with seat in the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany. These were Episcopal offices. An appreciation to apostolic administrations remained under against the will of the GDR government. In particular, there were

• The Episcopal Office Erfurt ( Fulda )
• The Episcopal Office Magdeburg ( Paderborn )
• The Episcopal Office Meiningen ( Würzburg )
• The Episcopal Commissioner, Office Schwerin later; to Osnabrück.

Erfurt, Meiningen were performed in real union as episcopal office Erfurt- Meiningen.

• German division
• Bishops' Conference
• Religious Organization ( DDR)
• German Bishops' Conference
• History of the Roman Catholic Church in Germany
• Roman Catholic organization ( Germany )