Josef Koukl

Josef Koukl ( born November 8, 1926 in Brno, † 22 May, 2010 Leitmeritz ) was from 1989 to 2003 Bishop of Leitmeritz ( Litoměřice ).

Life

Pope John Paul II appointed Josef Koukl 1989 Bishop of Leitmeritz. He received his episcopal consecration on 27 August 1989 in St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Archbishop of Prague, Cardinal Frantisek Tomasek. Co-consecrators were the then Apostolic Nuncio to Poland, Archbishop Francesco Colasuonno, and the Auxiliary Bishop of Prague Jan Lebeda. His motto was "Deus Caritas est ".

On 24 December 2003 its age-related resignation by Pope John Paul II was upheld. By the end of February 2004 Koukl administered the diocese as administrator. After the inauguration, he was appointed as Episcopal promoter for the contact of the Czech Bishops' Conference with foreign affairs, including the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People. He was Dean and Honorary Knight of St. George Knight Brotherhood to Carinthia.

Josef Koukl was buried on May 29 at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Leitmeritz.

Work

For his contributions to the understanding between Germans and Czechs him the Sudeten German team in 2005 gave the European Charlemagne Prize.

The Ackermann community of the Diocese of Würzburg honored Josef Koukl on January 13, 2007 with the " Nepomuk Medal" for his outstanding accomplishments for the building of a reconciled, forward-thinking and peace- neighborly relations between Czechs and Germans.

In 2009 he was honored for his services to displaced persons and reconciliation with the " Ulrich von Eschenbach Plaque ", the highest award of the home district association Leitmeritz.