Essen (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Franz-Josef Overbeck, Bishop
Ludger Schepers, Auxiliary Bishop
Andreas Geßmann, Auxiliary Bishop-Elect
Wilhelm Zimmermann, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 23 February 1957
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Köln {Cologne}
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Germany
Square Kilometers: 1,890 (730 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://www.bistum-essen.de
Mailing Address: Bischofliches Generalvikariat, Zwolfling 16, D-45127 Essen; Postfach 100464, D-45004 Essen, Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Telephone: (0201)2204-1
Fax: 2204-570

Past and Present Ordinaries

Franz Hengsbach † (18 Nov 1957 Appointed - 21 Feb 1991 Retired)
Hubert Luthe † (18 Dec 1991 Appointed - 22 May 2002 Retired)
Felix Genn (4 Apr 2003 Appointed - 19 Dec 2008 Appointed, Bishop of Münster)
Franz-Josef Overbeck (28 Oct 2009 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
23 February 1957	Erected	Archdiocese of Köln {Cologne} Diocese of Münster Archdiocese of Paderborn	Diocese of Essen (erected) (Bochum, Bottrop, Duisburg, Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Gladbeck, Lüdenscheid, and Mülhein (in Ruhr), Oberhausen, Wattenscheid; rural districts of Altena and Ennepe-Ruhrkreis (except Her decke and Wetter))
7 December 2006	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Paderborn (St. Teresa of Jesus Infante (in Evingsen))	Diocese of Essen

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1970 1,335,303 3,030,071 44.1% 818 173 991 1,347 204 2,203 232 ap1971

1980 1,244,808 2,813,156 44.2% 781 207 988 1,259 29 247 1,489 348 ap1981

1990 1,154,526 2,750,500 42.0% 656 168 824 1,401 64 197 964 347 ap1991

1999 1,038,809 2,700,666 38.5% 548 140 688 1,509 75 164 623 344 ap2000

2000 1,023,088 2,686,831 38.1% 533 133 666 1,536 74 155 578 341 ap2001

2001 1,006,394 2,672,963 37.7% 523 131 654 1,538 74 148 489 333 ap2002

2002 988,433 2,659,652 37.2% 515 132 647 1,527 74 149 548 321 ap2003

2003 970,438 2,646,480 36.7% 506 131 637 1,523 75 150 529 307 ap2004

2004 955,651 2,633,706 36.3% 497 139 636 1,502 80 156 546 293 ap2005

2006 930,653 2,615,873 35.6% 473 124 597 1,558 79 139 453 281 ap2007

2013 844,188 2,525,313 33.4% 404 102 506 1,668 77 118 387 143 ap2014

2016 817,600 2,485,839 32.9% 362 83 445 1,837 80 107 303 42 ap2017

2019 775,280 2,535,215 30.6% 328 82 410 1,890 79 94 301 42 ap2020

2021 778,470 2,545,540 30.6% 300 81 381 2,043 67 92 238 42 ap2022

2023 778,890 2,546,890 30.6% 273 83 356 2,187 69 92 230 40 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1970	1,335,303	3,030,071	44.1%	818	173	991	1,347		204	2,203	232	ap1971
1980	1,244,808	2,813,156	44.2%	781	207	988	1,259	29	247	1,489	348	ap1981
1990	1,154,526	2,750,500	42.0%	656	168	824	1,401	64	197	964	347	ap1991
1999	1,038,809	2,700,666	38.5%	548	140	688	1,509	75	164	623	344	ap2000
2000	1,023,088	2,686,831	38.1%	533	133	666	1,536	74	155	578	341	ap2001
2001	1,006,394	2,672,963	37.7%	523	131	654	1,538	74	148	489	333	ap2002
2002	988,433	2,659,652	37.2%	515	132	647	1,527	74	149	548	321	ap2003
2003	970,438	2,646,480	36.7%	506	131	637	1,523	75	150	529	307	ap2004
2004	955,651	2,633,706	36.3%	497	139	636	1,502	80	156	546	293	ap2005
2006	930,653	2,615,873	35.6%	473	124	597	1,558	79	139	453	281	ap2007
2013	844,188	2,525,313	33.4%	404	102	506	1,668	77	118	387	143	ap2014
2016	817,600	2,485,839	32.9%	362	83	445	1,837	80	107	303	42	ap2017
2019	775,280	2,535,215	30.6%	328	82	410	1,890	79	94	301	42	ap2020
2021	778,470	2,545,540	30.6%	300	81	381	2,043	67	92	238	42	ap2022
2023	778,890	2,546,890	30.6%	273	83	356	2,187	69	92	230	40	ap2024

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Julius Angerhausen † (Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Jan 1959 to 1 Mar 1986)
Franz Grave † (Priest: 2 Feb 1959; Auxiliary Bishop: 31 Mar 1988 to 27 Jun 2008)
Wolfgang Große (Grosse) † (Priest: 23 Feb 1957; Auxiliary Bishop: 12 Oct 1968 to 24 Feb 1991)
Franz Hengsbach † (Bishop: 18 Nov 1957 to 21 Feb 1991)
Hubert Luthe † (Bishop: 18 Dec 1991 to 22 May 2002)
Franz Vorrath † (Priest: 26 Jul 1962; Auxiliary Bishop: 22 Nov 1995 to 14 Mar 2014)

Source(s)

Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 49, Page 993, to Page 995
Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 99, Page 821, and Page 822

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Diocese of Essen

Dioecesis Essendiensis