Werner Thissen
Werner Thissen ( born December 3, 1938 in Kleve ) is Emeritus Archbishop of Hamburg and former Metropolitan of the North German church province.
Life
Werner Thissen After leaving school at the Collegium Augustinianum Gaesdonck Catholic theology and philosophy at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster. During his studies he became an active member of the Catholic Student Association Germania Münster in CT. On June 29, 1966 in Münster Thissen received the sacrament of Holy Orders. He was then chaplain to 1969 in St. Joseph in Dorsten, 1969-1971 Spiritual at the Collegium Johanneum in Greven and 1971-1977 chancellor of the seminary of the diocese of Münster. In 1974, he was with a dissertation on the Gospel of Mark to Dr. theol. doctorate. Since 1977 he worked as Head of the Department of Pastoral Care in the Episcopal Vicar General in Münster and was appointed in the same year to the spiritual advice. In 1984 he was appointed resident canon at the dome in Münster. 1986 appointed him Bishop Reinhard Lettmann to his vicar-general, a post in which he succeeded Norbert Kleyboldt 1999.
Pope John Paul II appointed Thissen on 16 April 1999 as Titular Bishop of Scampa and auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Münster. He received his episcopal consecration on 24 May 1999, the Bishop of Münster, Reinhard Lettmann; Co-consecrators were the suffragans in Munster, Alfons Demming and Henry Janssen. His episcopal motto is " In Christ nova creatura - In Christ a new creation." In the diocese of Münster Thissen served as regional bishop for the region Borken- Steinfurt.
In 2000 he was appointed by Cardinal Carlo Cardinal Furno Grand Master Grand Officer of the Order of the Holy grave in Jerusalem and, Grand Prior of the German Lieutenancy invested by Anton Schlembach, on 7 October 2000. He was from 2005 to 2013 prior of the North German Province of the Order of the Knights of the Holy grave in Jerusalem; and was succeeded by Bernhard Dechant plug.
On 22 November 2002, Pope John Paul II appointed Archbishop of Hamburg. The official inauguration took place on 25 January 2003.
The Archbishop of according to the canon law at the end of his 75th year of life filed, age-related resignation was accepted by Pope Francis on March 21, 2014. Thissen plans after his retirement in Hamburg's St. Georg to live and to press pastorally.
Werner Thissen was a member of the World Church of the German Bishops Conference, and Chairman of the Sub-Commission on issues of development aid and especially for the Episcopal Relief and Works Agency Misereor responsible.
Honors and Awards
- Appointed Grand Officer of the Order of the Holy grave in Jerusalem (2000)
- Appointment as Ehrendomkapitular of the cathedral chapter of Münster (2002)