Bishops of the (Breslau )Wrocław

Bishopric In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associate ...

, Prince-Bishopric (1290–1918), and

Archdiocese In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associat ...

(since 1930; see

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wrocław The Archdiocese of Wrocław ( pl, Archidiecezja wrocławska; german: Erzbistum Breslau; cs, Arcidiecéze vratislavská; la, Archidioecesis Vratislaviensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church cente ...

for details).

Bishops

* 1000–? – John (Johannes) * 1051–1062 – Hieronymus * 1063–1072 –

John I John I may refer to: People * John I (bishop of Jerusalem) * John Chrysostom (349 – c. 407), Patriarch of Constantinople * John of Antioch (died 441) * Pope John I, Pope from 523 to 526 * John I (exarch) (died 615), Exarch of Ravenna * John I ...

* 1074–1111 – Piotr I * 1112–1120 – Żyrosław I * 1120–1126 – Haymo * 1127–1140 –

Robert The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory ...

IJurek T., ''Zagadka biskupa wrocławskiego Roberta'', "Śląski Kwartalnik Historyczny Sobótka" 1990, pp. 1–11 * 1140–1142 – Robert II * 1145–1146 – Konrad * 1146–1149 – Jan * 1149–1169 – Walter * 1170–1198 – Siroslaus II * 1198–1201 –

Jarosław, Duke of Opole Jarosław of Opole ( pl, Jarosław opolski ; aft. 1143 – 22 March 1201) was a Duke of Opole from 1173 and Bishop of Wrocław from 1198 until his death. He was the oldest son of Bolesław I the Tall, by his first wife Zvenislava, daughte ...

(Jaroslaw of Opole) * 1201–1207 –

Cyprian Cyprian (; la, Thaschus Caecilius Cyprianus; 210 – 14 September 258 AD''The Liturgy of the Hours according to the Roman Rite: Vol. IV.'' New York: Catholic Book Publishing Company, 1975. p. 1406.) was a bishop of Carthage and an early Christ ...

, (1196–1201

Bishop of Lebus The Diocese of Lebus (; ; ) is a former diocese of the Catholic Church. It was erected in 1125 and suppressed in 1598. The Bishop of Lebus was also, ''ex officio'', the ruler of a lordship that was coextensive with the territory of the diocese. ...

) * 1207–1232 – Wawrzyniec * 1232–1268 –

Tomasz I Tomasz is a Polish given name, the equivalent of Thomas in English. Notable people with the given name include: *Tomasz Adamek (born 1976), Polish heavyweight boxer * Tomasz Arciszewski (1877–1955), Polish socialist politician and Prime Minis ...

**1268–1270 –

Ladislaus of Salzburg Władysław of Salzburg, also known as Władysław of Wrocław/Breslau ( pl, Władysław Wrocławski) or Władysław of Silesia (german: Wladislaus von Schlesien, cs, Vladislav Slezský; – 27 April 1270), a member of the Silesian Piasts, was ...

administrator Administrator or admin may refer to: Job roles Computing and internet * Database administrator, a person who is responsible for the environmental aspects of a database * Forum administrator, one who oversees discussions on an Internet forum * N ...

* 1270–1290 – Thomas II.

Prince-Bishops

*1290–1292 – Thomas II, granted princely regalia by

Henry IV Probus Henryk IV Probus (Latin for ''the Righteous'') ( pl, Henryk IV Probus or ''Prawy''; german: Heinrich IV. der Gerechte) ( – 23 June 1290) was a member of the Silesian branch of the royal Polish Piast dynasty. He was Duke of Silesia at Wro ...

for the episcopal

Duchy of Nysa The Duchy of Nysa ( pl, Księstwo Nyskie, cs, Niské knížectví) or Duchy of Neisse (german: Herzogtum Neisse) was one of the duchies of Silesia with its capital at Nysa in Lower Silesia. Alongside the Duchy of Siewierz, it was the only ec ...

and Castellany of

Otmuchów Otmuchów (pronounced: ; german: Ottmachau) is a town in Nysa County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 6,581 inhabitants (2019). Etymology The city was mentioned for the first time as ''Otemochow'' in 1155. It was named in its Old Polish form ''Ot ...

on 23 June 1290 *1292–1301 –

Johann III Romka Johann III Romka also known as John or Jan was a thirteenth century Bishop of Wrocław. He was Bishop from 1292 to his death on 19 November 1301.Henry of Wierzbna (Heinrich von Würben) *1319–1326 –

sede vacante ''Sede vacante'' ( in Latin.) is a term for the state of a diocese while without a bishop. In the canon law of the Catholic Church, the term is used to refer to the vacancy of the bishop's or Pope's authority upon his death or resignation. Hi ...

after double election: **Vitus of Habdank; **Lutold of Kroměříž ***1319–1326 –

Nikolaus of Banz Nicholas of Banz known also as Nikolaus von Banz was a Roman Catholic canon, important mediator in the Dynastic struggles of thirteenth century Poland and for a time was Administrator of the diocese of Wroclaw.Nanker Nanker (born Jan Kołda; also known as Nankier; ca. 1270–1341) was a Polish nobleman of Oksza coat of arms as well as bishop of Kraków (1320–1326) and bishop of Wrocław (1326–1341). Supporter of King Ladislaus I the Short and archbisho ...

(Nankier Kołda),

bishop of Cracow A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ...

(1320–1326) *1342–1376 –

Przecław of Pogorzela Przecław of Pogorzela ( pl, Przecław z Pogorzeli; 5 March 1310 – 6 April 1376 in Otmuchów) was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and Bishop of Wrocław and Duke of Nysa from 1342–1376.Wenceslaus Wenceslaus, Wenceslas, Wenzeslaus and Wenzslaus (and other similar names) are Latinized forms of the Czech name Václav. The other language versions of the name are german: Wenzel, pl, Wacław, Więcesław, Wieńczysław, es, Wenceslao, russian ...

, Duke of Legnica, administrator due to sede vacante *1382–1417 – Wenceslaus II of Legnica, 1417 resignation *1417–1447 – Konrad IV the Older *1447–1456 – Peter II Nowak *1456–1467 – Jošt of Rožmberk *1468–1482 – Rudolf of Rüdesheim *1482–1506 – Johann IV Roth *1506–1520 –

John V John V may refer to: * Patriarch John V of Alexandria or John the Merciful (died by 620), Patriarch of Alexandria from 606 to 616 * John V of Constantinople, Patriarch from 669 to 675 * Pope John V (685–686), Pope from 685 to his death in 686 * ...

Thurzó *1520–1539 – Jakob of Salza *1539–1562 – Balthasar of Promnitz *1562–1574 – Kaspar of Logau *1574–1585 – Martin of Gerstmann *1585–1596 – Andreas of Jerin *1596–1599 – Bonaventura Hahn, 1596 annulled by emperor, 1599 forced to resign by pope *1599–1600 – Paul Albert von Radolfzell *1600–1608 – Johann VI of Sitsch *1608–1624 – Archduke Charles Joseph of Inner Austria *1625–1655 – Prince Charles Ferdinand Vasa **1635–1655 – Johann Balthasar Liesch von Hornau, administrator, because Karl Ferdinand Wasa did not reside in Breslau *1656–1662 –

Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria (5 January 1614 – 20 November 1662), younger brother of Emperor Ferdinand III, was an Austrian soldier, administrator and patron of the arts. He held a number of military commands, with limited success, an ...

*1663–1664 –

Archduke Charles Joseph of Austria Charles Joseph (german: Karl Joseph) (7 August 1649 – 27 January 1664) was an Archduke of Austria and Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights (1662–64). He was also the bishop of Olmütz, and Breslau, Passau. Charles Joseph was born in V ...

*1665–1671 – Sebastian von Rostock *1671–1682 –

Friedrich von Hessen-Darmstadt Frederick of Hesse-Darmstadt (28 February 1616 – 19 February 1682) was a German protestant and soldier who converted to Catholicism, became a cardinal and was appointed Crown-cardinal of Austria. Early life Frederick was born in Darmstadt, Ger ...

*1682–1683 – Karl von Liechtenstein, resignation by papal order *1683 + Wolfgang Georg von Pfalz-Neuburg, had died before election *1683–1732 –

Count Palatine Francis Louis of Neuburg Francis Louis of Palatinate-Neuburg (; 18 July 1664 – 6 April 1732) was bishop and archbishop of several dioceses, prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, and of the Teutonic Order. Life He was born in Neuburg an der Donau as son of Phili ...

*1732–1747 – Philipp Ludwig von Sinzendorf *1748–1795 –

Philipp Gotthard von Schaffgotsch Count Philipp Gotthard von Schaffgotsch (3 July 1716 – 5 January 1795) was a German Prince-Bishop of Breslau and an important promoter of music. Ecclesiastical career Schaffgotsch was born in Bad Warmbrunn in the Riesengebirge mountains ...

, since 1744 coadjutor **1757–1781 – Johann Moritz von Strachwitz,

of Prussian part, since 1761 auxiliary bishop **1781–1795 – Anton Ferdinand von Rothkirch und Panthen, administrator of Prussian part, since 1781 Auxiliary bishop *1795–1817 – Joseph Christian Franz zu Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Bartenstein, 1787 coadjutor of Prussian part *1817–1824 – sede vacante with Emanuel von Schimonsky as capitular vicar and

apostolic administrator An Apostolic administration in the Catholic Church is administrated by a prelate appointed by the pope to serve as the ordinary for a specific area. Either the area is not yet a diocese (a stable 'pre-diocesan', usually missionary apostolic adm ...

*1824–1832 – Emanuel von Schimonsky *1832–1836 – sede vacante with Leopold von Sedlnitzky as capitular vicar *1836–1840 – Leopold von Sedlnitzky, resignation, later convert to

Protestantism Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...

*1840–1843 – sede vacante with Ignaz Ritter as capitular vicar *1843–1844 – Joseph Knauer, elect 1841, Grand Dean of the

County of Kladsko The County of Kladsko ( cs, Kladské hrabství, german: Grafschaft Glatz, pl, Hrabstwo kłodzkie) was a historical administrative unit within Bohemia as a part of the Kingdom of Bohemia and later in the Kingdom of Prussia with its capital at Kł ...

between 1809–1843 *1844–1845 – sede vacante with Daniel Latussek as capitular vicar, since 1838 auxiliary bishop *1845–1853 – Melchior Freiherr von Diepenbrock, Cardinal *1853–1881 – Heinrich Förster *1881–1882 – sede vacante with Hermann Gleich as capitular vicar, since 1875 auxiliary bishop *1882–1886 – Robert Herzog, Prince-Episcopal Delegate for

Brandenburg Brandenburg (; nds, Brannenborg; dsb, Bramborska ) is a state in the northeast of Germany bordering the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Saxony, as well as the country of Poland. With an area of 29,480 squ ...

and

Pomerania Pomerania ( pl, Pomorze; german: Pommern; Kashubian: ''Pòmòrskô''; sv, Pommern) is a historical region on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea in Central Europe, split between Poland and Germany. The western part of Pomerania belongs to ...

(1870–1882) *1886–1887 – sede vacante Hermann Gleich as capitular vicar *1887–1914 – Georg von Kopp, Cardinal *1914–1930 – Adolf Bertram, Cardinal since 1916 (public announcement 1919), title of prince-bishop voided in 1918 (but he continued to use the princely title until his death).

Archbishops

*1930–1945 – Adolf Bertram (d. 6 July 1945), Cardinal since 1916 (public announcement 1919), archbishop since 13 August 1930 *1945–1972 – sede vacante Intermittent administrators and capitular vicars: *16 July 1945 till 31 August 1945 – Capitular vicar Ferdinand Piontek, bishop-elect **Breslau and most of the archdiocesan territory (like most of Silesia) were annexed to the

People's Republic of Poland The Polish People's Republic ( pl, Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa, PRL) was a country in Central Europe that existed from 1947 to 1989 as the predecessor of the modern Republic of Poland. With a population of approximately 37.9 million ne ...

in July 1945. On 1 September 1945 the archdiocese was ''de facto'' divided into four separate areas, (1) the

East German East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR; german: Deutsche Demokratische Republik, , DDR, ), was a country that existed from its creation on 7 October 1949 until its dissolution on 3 October 1990. In these years the state ...

archdiocesan area (seat in

Görlitz Görlitz (; pl, Zgorzelec, hsb, Zhorjelc, cz, Zhořelec, East Lusatian dialect: ''Gerlz'', ''Gerltz'', ''Gerltsch'') is a town in the German state of Saxony. It is located on the Lusatian Neisse River, and is the largest town in Upper Lus ...

), (2) the administrative district of

Gorzów Wielkopolski Gorzów Wielkopolski (; german: Landsberg an der Warthe) often abbreviated to Gorzów Wlkp. or simply Gorzów, is a city in western Poland, on the Warta river. It is the second largest city in the Lubusz Voivodeship with 120,087 inhabitants (Decem ...

(also competent for the Polish-annexed diocesan areas of the archespiscopal

suffragan A suffragan bishop is a type of bishop in some Christian denominations. In the Anglican Communion, a suffragan bishop is a bishop who is subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop (bishop ordinary) and so is not normally jurisdiction ...

s, such as the

Diocese of Berlin The Archdiocese of Berlin is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Germany. The archepiscopal see is in Berlin, with the archdiocese's territory extending over Northeast Germany. As of 2004, the ar ...

and the

Territorial Prelature of Schneidemühl A territory is an area of land, sea, or space, particularly belonging or connected to a country, person, or animal. In international politics, a territory is usually either the total area from which a state may extract power resources or an ...

), (3) the administrative district of

Opole Opole (; german: Oppeln ; szl, Ôpole) ; * Silesian: ** Silesian PLS alphabet: ''Ôpole'' ** Steuer's Silesian alphabet: ''Uopole'' * Silesian German: ''Uppeln'' * Czech: ''Opolí'' * Latin: ''Oppelia'', ''Oppolia'', ''Opulia'' is a city l ...

, and (4) the administrative district of

Wrocław Wrocław (; german: Breslau, or . ; Silesian German: ''Brassel'') is a city in southwestern Poland and the largest city in the historical region of Silesia. It lies on the banks of the River Oder in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Europe, r ...

(until 1978 also competent for the Czechoslovakian archdiocesan area): *** (1) 1945–1963 Capitular Vicar Ferdinand Piontek (1878–1963), in the East German archdiocesan area he remained undisputedly in office since his election on 16 July 1945,

Pope Pius XII Pope Pius XII ( it, Pio XII), born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli (; 2 March 18769 October 1958), was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2 March 1939 until his death in October 1958. Before his e ...

granted him on 28 February 1946, when still residing in Wrocław, the rights of a residing bishop. Piontek was expelled from Poland to the

British zone of occupation Germany was already de facto occupied by the Allies from the real fall of Nazi Germany in World War II on 8 May 1945 to the establishment of the East Germany on 7 October 1949. The Allies (United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, and France ...

on 9 July, he could return to the archdiocese in March 1947, then taking residence in East German Görlitz. *** (1) 1963–1972 Capitular Vicar Gerhard Schaffran, also

Bishop of Meissen The Bishop of Dresden-Meissen is the ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dresden-Meissen in the Archdiocese of Berlin. The diocese covers an area of and was erected as the Diocese of Meissen on 24 June 1921. The name was changed to Dre ...

(1970–1987) *** (2) 1945–1951 Administrator

Edmund Nowicki Edmund is a masculine given name or surname in the English language. The name is derived from the Old English elements ''ēad'', meaning "prosperity" or "riches", and ''mund'', meaning "protector". Persons named Edmund include: People Kings an ...

, appointed for the Gorzów Wielkopolski district with effect of 1 September 1945, deposed and expelled by Communist Polish government on 26 January 1951 *** (2) 1951–1952 Capitular Vicar Tadeusz Załuczkowski *** (2) 1952–1955 Capitular Vicar Zygmunt Szelążek *** (2) 1956–1958 Capitular Vicar Teodor Bensch *** (2) 1958–1958 Capitular Vicar Józef Michalski *** (2) 1958–1972 Capitular Vicar Wilhelm Pluta, thereafter bishop of the Diocese of Gorzów Wielkopolski newly established from the archdiocese in 1972 *** (3) 1945–1951 Administrator Bolesław Kominek, appointed administrator for the Opole district with effect of 1 September 1945, deposed and expelled by Communist Polish government on 26 January 1951 *** (3) 1951–1956 Capitular Vicar Emil Kobierzycki *** (3) 1956–1972 Franciszek Jop, Special Delegate (for Opole) of Primas

Stefan Wyszyński Stefan Wyszyński (3 August 1901 – 28 May 1981) was a Polish prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the bishop of Lublin from 1946 to 1948, archbishop of Warsaw and archbishop of Gniezno from 1948 to 1981. He was created a cardinal on ...

, administrator since 1967, thereafter bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Opole, Diocese of Opole newly established from the archdiocese in 1972 *** (4) 1945–1951 Administrator Karol Milik, appointed for the Wrocław district by August Hlond on 15 August with effect of 1 September 1945, not recognized as archbishop by the Holy See, deposed and expelled by Communist Polish government on 26 January 1951 *** (4) 1951–1956 – Capitular Vicar Kazimierz Lagosz, not recognized as archbishop by the Holy See *** (4) 1956–1972 – Capitular Vicar Bolesław Kominek, not recognized as archbishop by the Holy See, thereafter appointed as archbishop of Wrocław with a sharply belittled archdiocesan area *** (2, 3 and 4) 1951–1958 – Teodor Bensch, spiritual assistant with episcopal jurisdiction for the remaining Expulsion of Germans after World War II, non-expelled Germans in the Polish part of the archdiocese (residing in Gorzów Wielkopolski, Gorzów Wielkopolski (Landsberg an der Warthe)). **In 1972 the Holy See redrew the archdiocesan boundaries. The East German archdiocesan area (1) was disentangled from the archdiocese and established as the exempt Apostolic Administration of Görlitz (in 1994 elevated to diocese), the district of Gorzów Wielkopolski was established as the new archepiscopal suffragan Diocese of Gorzów Wielkopolski (renamed and regrouped as

in 1992), the district of Opole (3) was established as the new suffragan Roman Catholic Diocese of Opole, Diocese of Opole and the territorially belittled remainder henceforth became the archdiocese proper with its capitular vicar elevated to archbishop. *1972–1974 – Bolesław Kominek, card., papally appointed as archbishop *1974–1976 – sede vacante with Wincenty Urban as capitular vicar *1976–2004 – Henryk Gulbinowicz, card. *2004–2013 – Marian Gołębiewski *since 2013 – Józef Kupny

Auxiliary bishops

*1251–1260 – Wit (bishop missionary), Wit *1268 – Salwiusz (bishop of Trebinje), Salwiusz *1270 – Herbord (bishop of Lawant), Herbord *1294 – Iwan (bishop of Lacedemon), Iwan *1302 – Paweł (bishop of Skopola), Paweł *1303 – Mikołaj (bishop of Senja), Mikołaj *1303 – Hartung (bishop of Semagallen), Hartung *1307–1323 – Paweł (bishop of Tyberiada), Paweł *1339–1345 – Stefan (bishop of Lubusz), Stefan *1346–1365 – Franciszek Rothwitz *1352–1378 – Tomasz (bishop of Sarepta), Tomasz *1355–1370 – Maciej (bishop of Trebinje), Maciej *1365–1398 – Dersław (bishop of Elaten), Dersław *1390–1411 – Mikołaj (bishop of Abelone), Mikołaj *1410–1431 – Tyleman Wessel *1405–1435 – Bernard (bishop of Callipolis), Bernard *1331–1446 – Jan Panwitz *1447–1453 – Bernard (bishop of Symbalon), Bernard *1456–1461 – Jan Pelletz *1432–1470 – Jan Erler *1455–1457 – Franciszek Kuhschmalz *1476–1504 – Jan (biskup Cycyku), Jan *1505–1538 – Heinrich Füllstein *1539–1545 – Johann Thiel *1577–1605 – Adam Weisskopf *1604–1613 – Georg Skultetus *1614–1615 – Franz Ursinus *1617–1624 – Martin Kolsdorf *1625–1661 – Johann Balthasar Liesch von Hornau *1640–1646 – Kaspar Karas *1662–1693 – Franz Karl Neander *1693–1703 – Johann Brunetti *1703 – Stefan Antoni Medzewski *1704–1706 – Franz Engelbert Barbo *1709–1714 – Anton Ignaz Münzer *1714–1742 – Elias Daniel Sommerfeld *1743–1760 – Frank Dominik (bishop), Franz Dominik *1761–1781 – Jan Maurycy Strachwitz *1781–1805 – Anton Ferdinand von Rothkirch und Panten *1798–1823 – Emanuel von Schimonski *1826–1830 – Karl Aulock *1831–1835 – Josef Schuberth *1838–1857 – Daniel Latussek *1857–1860 – Bernard Bogedain *1861–1875 – Adrian Włodarski *1875–1900 – Hermann Gleich *1900–1911 – Heinrich Marx (bishop), Heinrich Marx *1910–1919 – Karl Augustyn *1920–1940 – Walenty Wojciech *1923–1929 – Josef Deitmer *1940–1946 – Joseph Ferche *1957–1974 – Andrzej Wronka *1961–1973 – Paweł Latusek *1967–1983 – Wincenty Urban *1973–1978 – Józef Marek *1977–1992 – Tadeusz Rybak *1978–1992 – Adam Dyczkowski *1985–2000 – Józef Pazdur *1988–2004 – Jan Tyrawa *1996–2012 – Edward Janiak *2006–2021 – Andrzej Siemieniewski *2016–present – Jacek Kiciński *2022–present – Maciej Małyga

Apostolic visitators for the expelled German priests and faithful

The expulsion of Germans after World War II, expelled German priests and German Silesian faithful from the original Archdiocese of Breslau were granted the privilege of an apostolic visitator, given all diocesan jurisdiction required, by Pope Paul VI in 1972, in order to serve the Catholic ''Heimatvertriebene'' from Silesia, in West Germany, their new home. *1972–1982 – Monsignor Hubert Thienel *1982–present – Monsignor Winfried König

Bishops

Prince-Bishops

Archbishops

Auxiliary bishops

Apostolic visitators for the expelled German priests and faithful

Notes

Further reading