Aachen (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Helmut Karl Dieser, Bishop
Karl Borsch, Auxiliary Bishop
Heinrich Mussinghoff, Bishop Emeritus
Johannes Bündgens, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus
Ernst Franz Gerd Werner Dicke, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 13 August 1930
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Köln {Cologne}
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Germany
Square Kilometers: 4,020 (1,552 Square Miles)
Description: From the North Eifel (Mechernich, Schleiden) to the Lower Rhine (Krefeld)
Official Web Site: https://www.bistum-aachen.de
Mailing Address: Klosterplatz 7, D-52062 Aachen, Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Telephone: (0241)45.20
Fax: 45.24.96

Past and Present Ordinaries

Joseph Vogt † (30 Jan 1931 Confirmed - 5 Oct 1937 Died)
Johannes Joseph van der Velden † (7 Sep 1943 Appointed - 19 May 1954 Died)
Johannes Pohlschneider † (30 Aug 1954 Appointed - 13 Dec 1974 Retired)
Klaus Hemmerle † (9 Sep 1975 Appointed - 23 Jan 1994 Died)
Heinrich Mussinghoff (12 Dec 1994 Appointed - 8 Dec 2015 Retired)
Helmut Karl Dieser (23 Sep 2016 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
13 August 1930	Erected	Archdiocese of Köln {Cologne} (from the North Eifel (Mechernich, Schleiden) to the Lower Rhine (Krefeld))	Diocese of Aachen (erected)

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

1949 1,185,521 1,334,664 88.8% 947 228 1,175 1,008 263 3,125 519 ap1951

1959 1,337,115 1,658,898 80.6% 970 393 1,363 981 622 4,193 532 ap1960

1970 1,486,613 1,902,480 78.1% 1,026 398 1,424 1,043 580 3,658 488 ap1971

1980 1,445,000 1,850,000 78.1% 813 309 1,122 1,287 11 433 2,622 538 ap1981

1990 1,299,000 1,858,000 69.9% 697 230 927 1,401 48 345 1,891 538 ap1991

1999 1,242,500 2,008,000 61.9% 608 177 785 1,582 56 239 1,331 539 ap2000

2000 1,232,300 2,012,000 61.2% 590 176 766 1,608 62 238 1,305 539 ap2001

2001 1,222,148 2,016,000 60.6% 579 175 754 1,620 57 226 1,200 541 ap2002

2002 1,214,451 2,025,000 60.0% 578 150 728 1,668 58 197 1,148 540 ap2003

2003 1,207,487 2,035,000 59.3% 555 136 691 1,747 56 187 1,102 538 ap2004

2004 1,200,375 2,041,454 58.8% 535 135 670 1,791 62 182 1,082 538 ap2005

2005 1,192,828 2,053,633 58.1% 517 131 648 1,840 62 177 1,038 534 ap2006

2006 1,178,884 2,054,108 57.4% 509 126 635 1,856 65 174 1,006 531 ap2007

2011 1,122,038 2,033,762 55.2% 443 105 548 2,047 80 147 782 374 ap2012

2012 1,110,948 2,028,699 54.8% 436 106 542 2,049 82 141 766 371 ap2013

2015 1,091,000 2,032,000 53.7% 402 84 486 2,244 80 114 685 330 ap2016

2018 1,087,450 2,010,000 54.1% 360 71 431 2,523 81 92 600 326 ap2019

2020 1,021,500 2,009,557 50.8% 335 61 396 2,579 80 79 584 326 ap2021

2022 1,021,980 2,014,638 50.7% 310 53 363 2,815 77 65 470 326 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1949	1,185,521	1,334,664	88.8%	947	228	1,175	1,008		263	3,125	519	ap1951
1959	1,337,115	1,658,898	80.6%	970	393	1,363	981		622	4,193	532	ap1960
1970	1,486,613	1,902,480	78.1%	1,026	398	1,424	1,043		580	3,658	488	ap1971
1980	1,445,000	1,850,000	78.1%	813	309	1,122	1,287	11	433	2,622	538	ap1981
1990	1,299,000	1,858,000	69.9%	697	230	927	1,401	48	345	1,891	538	ap1991
1999	1,242,500	2,008,000	61.9%	608	177	785	1,582	56	239	1,331	539	ap2000
2000	1,232,300	2,012,000	61.2%	590	176	766	1,608	62	238	1,305	539	ap2001
2001	1,222,148	2,016,000	60.6%	579	175	754	1,620	57	226	1,200	541	ap2002
2002	1,214,451	2,025,000	60.0%	578	150	728	1,668	58	197	1,148	540	ap2003
2003	1,207,487	2,035,000	59.3%	555	136	691	1,747	56	187	1,102	538	ap2004
2004	1,200,375	2,041,454	58.8%	535	135	670	1,791	62	182	1,082	538	ap2005
2005	1,192,828	2,053,633	58.1%	517	131	648	1,840	62	177	1,038	534	ap2006
2006	1,178,884	2,054,108	57.4%	509	126	635	1,856	65	174	1,006	531	ap2007
2011	1,122,038	2,033,762	55.2%	443	105	548	2,047	80	147	782	374	ap2012
2012	1,110,948	2,028,699	54.8%	436	106	542	2,049	82	141	766	371	ap2013
2015	1,091,000	2,032,000	53.7%	402	84	486	2,244	80	114	685	330	ap2016
2018	1,087,450	2,010,000	54.1%	360	71	431	2,523	81	92	600	326	ap2019
2020	1,021,500	2,009,557	50.8%	335	61	396	2,579	80	79	584	326	ap2021
2022	1,021,980	2,014,638	50.7%	310	53	363	2,815	77	65	470	326	ap2023