Kurt Koch | |
|---|---|
| President of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity | |
 Koch pictured in December 2016. | |
| Church | RomanCatholic Church |
| Appointed | 1 July 2010 |
| Predecessor | Walter Kasper |
| Other posts | President of the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews (2010-) Cardinal-Priest 'pro hac vice' of Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore (2021-) |
| Previous posts | Bishop of Basel (1996–2010) President of the Swiss Episcopal Conference (2006-09) Apostolic Administrator of Basel (2010) Cardinal-Deacon of Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore (2010-21) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 20 June 1982 by Otto Wüst |
| Consecration | 6 January 1996 by Pope John Paul II |
| Created cardinal | 20 November 2010 byPope Benedict XVI |
| Rank | Cardinal-Deacon (2010-21) Cardinal-Priest (2021-) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kurt Koch (1950-03-15)15 March 1950 (age 75) |
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Denomination | Catholic (Roman Rite) |
| Alma mater | Ludwig-Maximilian University University of Lucerne |
| Motto | Latin:Ut sit in omnibus Christus primatum tenens |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Kurt Koch | |
|---|---|
| |
| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Basel (Emeritus) |
Kurt Koch (born 15 March 1950) is aSwiss prelate of theCatholic Church. He has been acardinal since November 2010 and president of theDicastery for Promoting Christian Unity since 1 July 2010. He was the bishop ofBasel from 1996 until 2010.
Koch was born inEmmenbrücke in the canton ofLucerne. He studied theology at theLudwig-Maximilians University in Munich and at theUniversity of Lucerne, graduating in 1975 with aDoctor of Theology degree. He wasordained to the priesthood on 20 June 1982.
Koch was appointed Bishop of Basel on 6 December 1995. He receivedepiscopal consecration on 6 January 1996 from John Paul II himself, with ArchbishopsGiovanni Battista Re andJorge María Mejía serving asco-consecrators.[1]
When a group of Swissintellectuals andtheologians called for John Paul'sresignation on 20 May 2004, on the occasion of his 84th birthday, Koch described it as "disgusting and disloyal".[2] In 2006, he supported the freedom of Muslims to buildminarets in Switzerland, but also asked for greaterreligious freedom for Christians inMuslim countries.[3][4]
On 27 June 2007, Koch, along with several other Catholic prelates, attended a briefing from theCardinal Secretary of State,Tarcisio Bertone, at theApostolic Palace onPope Benedict XVI's forthcomingallowing wider celebration of theTridentine Mass.[5]
In July 2007, Koch defended theCongregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's document "Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church." He acknowledged that the document could appear confusing or hurtful to Protestants. He said the document's reception showed the difference between theecumenical goals of Catholics and theOrthodox on the one hand and that of Protestants on the other.[6]
Koch was President of the SwissEpiscopal Conference from 2007 until 2010. He is a member of the Swiss Council of Religions.
Pope Benedict XVI announced the appointment of Koch as president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity on 1 July 2010, taking over from CardinalWalter Kasper.[7][8] Koch was made archbishop as well. He commented: "The Holy Father told me in February, in a personal audience, his desire that I would begin to lead this council. It is a great joy for me because ecumenism has always been in my heart since in my country, Switzerland, Protestants are very close to us and I have also had a particular interest in the Orthodox Churches."[9]
On 16 October 2010, Pope Benedict appointed Koch as a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for a five-year renewable term.[10]
On 20 October 2010, Pope Benedict made himCardinal-Deacon ofNostra Signora del Sacro Cuore.[11]
On 29 December 2010, Koch was appointed a member of theCongregation for the Oriental Churches and thePontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.[12]
Koch headed the Vatican's delegation toIstanbul, Turkey to theEcumenical Patriarch of Constantinople,Patriarch Bartholomew I, for the Feast ofSaint Andrew the Apostle on 30 November 2010 (the Patriarchate sends a delegation each year in turn for the Solemnity of the Holy ApostlesSaint Peter andSaint Paul on 29 June). He co-presided over a meeting of theJoint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church inVienna, Austria in September 2010 with MetropolitanJohn Zizioulas ofPergamon.
On 4 May 2011 Pope Benedict appointed Koch a member of theCongregation for the Causes of Saints. The five-year term will be renewed until his 80th birthday.
In his role as president of the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, Koch spoke to reporters on 16 May 2011, after delivering a speech on Catholic-Jewish relations in light of Vatican II's declarationNostra aetate on the Church's relations with non-Christian religions. The speech followed Koch's participation in a meeting of the doctrinal congregation to examine the latest progress in the Vatican'sreconciliation talks with thetraditionalistSociety of Saint Pius X. "There are questions to clarify in discussions with this community. I can't say more than that", he told reporters, echoing a Vatican statement saying the reconciliation talks are ongoing. Koch noted that "All the doctrinal decisions of the church are binding on a Catholic, including theSecond Vatican Council and all its texts", Koch said when asked if the SSPX would be expected to accept all the teachings of Vatican II. "TheNostra aetate declaration of the Second Vatican Council is a clear decree and is important for every Catholic", he added.[13]
16 May 2012, Koch gave the Pope John Paul II Lecture on Interreligious Understanding at thePontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum). Koch spoke on the theme of "Building onNostra aetate: 50 Years of Christian-Jewish Dialogue".
On 30 October 2012, Koch stated in an interview that, if Lutherans express a wish for an arrangement similar to the personal ordinariates for former Anglicans, the Catholic Church will have to reflect on it, but that the initiative must come from Lutherans.[14][15]
He was one of thecardinal electors who participated in the2013 papal conclave that electedPope Francis.[16]
On Saturday, 30 November 2013,Pope Francis named Cardinal Koch a Member of theCongregation for Catholic Education.[17] He was appointed a member of theCongregation for Bishops.[18]
After ten years at the rank of cardinal deacon, he exercised his option to assume the rank of cardinal priest, which Pope Francis confirmed on 3 May 2021.[19]
He was once again acardinal elector in the2025 papal conclave that electedPope Leo XIV.[20]
In a 2025 letter addressed to Bishop Sarah Mullally, Cardinal Koch, offered his congratulations and expressed the Catholic Church’s support for her new ministry.[21]
The problem is really not the strength of Islam but the weakness of Christianity. If we were to go back to our roots and stand behind our convictions we could approach other religions more openly.
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Bishop of Basel 6 December 1995 – 1 July 2010 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of the Swiss Episcopal Conference 2006 – 2009 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity 1 July 2010 – | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Cardinal-Deacon of Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore 20 November 2010 – | |
