Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity

Leadership

About Kurt Koch

Kurt Koch was born on 15 March 1950 in Emmenbrücke, in the canton of Lucerne, Switzerland. He studied theology at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and the University of Lucerne, graduating in 1975 with a Doctor of Theology degree. He was ordained to the priesthood on 20 June 1982 by Bishop Otto Wüst. Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Basel on 6 December 1995, and he received his episcopal consecration from Pope John Paul II himself on 6 January 1996 in Rome. As Bishop of Basel, Koch built a reputation as a thoughtful theologian engaged with ecumenical questions, serving as President of the Swiss Episcopal Conference from 2007 to 2010. Pope Benedict XVI announced his appointment as President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity on 1 July 2010, simultaneously raising him to the rank of Archbishop. Pope Benedict created him a Cardinal-Deacon of Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore on 20 November 2010. In this role Koch also serves as President of the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews. He participated in the 2013 papal conclave that elected Pope Francis and in the 2025 papal conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV. In May 2021 he exercised his option to assume the rank of Cardinal-Priest after ten years as Cardinal-Deacon. In 2025 he was named president of the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need.

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Applies appropriate initiatives and activities to the ecumenical commitment within the Catholic Church and in relations with other Churches and Ecclesial Communities.

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