Germany

Stored: Germany

Country: Germany
Historic:
Existence:	–
Continent:	Europe
Region:	Central Europe
Historical Region:
Area:	357582 km²
Population:	84000000
Catholic Population:	21000000
Catholic Percentage:	25%
Catholicism Status:	Significant minority religion, secular state
Official Languages:	German
Capital:	Berlin
Catholicism Introduced:	4th century AD
Ecclesiastical Provinces:	7
Dioceses:	27
Patron Saints:	Saint Boniface, Saint Michael the Archangel
Predecessor States:
Successor States:

Germany is a Central European nation, covering approximately 357,582 km² with a population of about 84 million as of 2024. Its official language is German, and its economy thrives on manufacturing, technology, and trade. The Catholic Church, with approximately 21 million adherents (25% of the population), is the second-largest religious group after Protestantism (26%), introduced in the 4th century AD during Roman times. Catholicism shapes Germany’s culture through historic cathedrals, festivals, and saints like Saint Boniface and Saint Michael the Archangel.

The Catholic Church, with seven ecclesiastical provinces and 27 dioceses, has a strong historical presence, particularly in Bavaria and the Rhineland, but faces challenges from secularization in a secular state. Sites like Cologne Cathedral and the Shrine of the Three Kings attract pilgrims, though regular church attendance is low at about 10%.

Saints

Birthplace

Parameter received: Germany

Germany

SaintName SaintBirthPlace Saint Adalbert of Magdeburg Worms, Franconia, East Francia (now Germany) Saint Albert the Great Lauingen, Duchy of Swabia, Holy Roman Empire (now Germany) Saint Bruno of Cologne Cologne, Germany Saint Elizabeth of Schönau Bingen, Germany Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen Sigmaringen, Germany Saint Hildegard of Bingen Bermersheim vor der Höhe, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany Saint Ludolf of Ratzeburg Westphalia, Holy Roman Empire (now Germany) Saint Matilda Engern, Westphalia, Kingdom of Germany (modern-day Germany) Saint Mechtilde of Hackeborn Helfta, Saxony, Holy Roman Empire (now Germany) Saint Theodgar of Vestervig Thuringia, Holy Roman Empire (now Germany) Saint Wolfgang of Regensburg Swabia, Germany (Pfullingen, near Stuttgart) Servant of God Emilie Engel Husten, Sauerland, Germany

Death place

Parameter received: Germany

Germany

SaintName DeathPlace Saint Adalbert of Magdeburg Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Holy Roman Empire (now Germany) Saint Albert the Great Cologne, Electorate of Cologne, Holy Roman Empire (now Germany) Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Marburg, Landgraviate of Thuringia (now Hesse, Germany) Saint Elizabeth of Schönau Schönau Abbey, Bingen, Germany Saint Hildegard of Bingen Bingen am Rhein, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany Saint Hungerus Frisus Prüm, Germany Saint Liudger of Utrecht Billerbeck, Münster, Frankish Empire (now Germany) Saint Ludolf of Ratzeburg Ratzeburg, Mecklenburg, Holy Roman Empire (now Germany) Saint Matilda Quedlinburg, Saxony, Kingdom of Germany Saint Mechtilde of Hackeborn Helfta, Saxony, Holy Roman Empire (now Germany) Saint Rupert Salzburg, Bavaria, Germany (now Austria) Saint Ursula Cologne, Germania Inferior (now Germany) Servant of God Emilie Engel Koblenz-Metternich, Germany

Notable locations

Parameter received: Germany

Germany

SaintName NotableAddress1 Saint Adalbert of Magdeburg Domplatz 5, 39104 Magdeburg, Germany Saint Albert the Great Augustinian Canons' Monastery, Lauingen, Bavaria, Germany Saint Edith Stein Cologne, Germany Saint Elizabeth of Hungary St. Elizabeth's Church, Elisabethplatz 1, 35037 Marburg, Hesse, Germany Saint Elizabeth of Schönau Schönauer Str. 1, 55413 Bingen am Rhein, Germany Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany (University) Saint Gregory of Spoleto Domplatz 1, 50667 Cologne, Germany Saint Hildegard of Bingen Disibodenberg Abbey, 55566 Odernheim am Glan, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany Saint Liudger of Utrecht Markt 1, 48727 Billerbeck, Germany Saint Ludolf of Ratzeburg Ratzeburger Dom, Am Dom 1, 23909 Ratzeburg, Germany Saint Matilda Quedlinburg Abbey, Quedlinburg, Germany Saint Maximinus of Trier Trier, Germany Saint Mechtilde of Hackeborn Helfta Monastery Ruins, Helfta 1, 06295 Mansfeld, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Carmelite Monastery of Cologne, Alexianerstraße 18, 50678 Cologne, Germany Saint Ursula Basilica of St. Ursula, Ursulaplatz 23, 50668 Cologne, Germany Saint Wolfgang of Regensburg Reichenau Abbey, 78479 Reichenau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany Servant of God Emilie Engel Schönstatt, Vallendar, Germany

Parameter received: Germany

Germany

SaintName NotableAddress2 Saint Adalbert of Magdeburg St. Maurice and Catherine Church, Magdeburg, Germany Saint Benedict of Aniane Palace of Aachen (Aachener Dom), 52062 Aachen, Germany Saint Boniface Fulda Cathedral, Domplatz 1, 36037 Fulda, Hesse, Germany Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Elizabeth Hospital, Steinstraße 6, 35037 Marburg, Hesse, Germany Saint Elizabeth of Schönau St. John's Church, Bingen am Rhein, Germany Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen Constance, Germany (Theological studies) Saint Hildegard of Bingen Rupertsberg Abbey, Am Rupertsberg 16, 55411 Bingen am Rhein, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany Saint Hungerus Frisus Prüm Abbey, Prüm, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany Saint Liudger of Utrecht Werden Abbey, Essen 45276, Germany Saint Ludolf of Ratzeburg Rehna Abbey ruins, 19230 Rehna, Germany Saint Matilda Engern, Westphalia, Germany Saint Mechtilde of Hackeborn Cistercian Abbey of Hohenburg, Hohenburg 1, 93149 Nabburg, Bavaria, Germany Saint Peter Canisius University of Ingolstadt, Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany Saint Ursula Church of St. Severin, Kirchgasse 2, 50667 Cologne, Germany Servant of God Emilie Engel Grimlinghausen, Germany

Parameter received: Germany

Germany

SaintName NotableAddress3 Saint Adalbert of Magdeburg St. Severus Church, Erfurt, Germany Saint Albert the Great Albertus Magnus University, Cologne, Germany Saint Boniface Mainz Cathedral, Markt 10, 55116 Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany Saint Crispin Domplatz 16, 49074 Osnabrück, Germany Saint Crispinian Domplatz 16, 49074 Osnabrück, Germany Saint Elizabeth of Schönau Benedictine Abbey of St. Hildegard, Rüdesheim, Germany Saint Hildegard of Bingen Benedictine Abbey of St. Hildegard, Eibingen 7, 65385 Rüdesheim am Rhein, Hesse, Germany Saint Liudger of Utrecht Domplatz 1, 48129 Münster, Germany Saint Ludolf of Ratzeburg St. Ludolf Church, Bielefeld, Germany Saint Matilda Nordhausen, Thuringia, Germany Saint Mechtilde of Hackeborn St. Mechtilde Church, Eisleben, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Church of St. Edith Stein, Zentrum Edith-Stein-Weg 1, 50678 Cologne, Germany Saint Thomas Aquinas Cologne, Holy Roman Empire (now Germany) Saint Ursula Cologne Cathedral, Domkloster 4, 50667 Cologne, Germany Saint Wolfgang of Regensburg Regensburg Cathedral, Domplatz 1, 93047 Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany Servant of God Emilie Engel Börning-Sondingen, Germany

Parameter received: Germany

Germany
SaintName NotableAddress4 Saint Benedict of Aniane St. Michael's Abbey, Siegburg, Germany Saint Matilda Pöhlde, Lower Saxony, Germany Saint Maurice d'Agaune St. Maurice Church, Magdeburg, Germany

Parameter received: Germany

Germany
SaintName NotableAddress5 Pope Saint Clement I Basilica of St. Clement, Hanover, Germany

Geography

Germany is located in Central Europe, bordered by Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands, with a North Sea and Baltic Sea coastline. Its 357,582 km² includes diverse landscapes, from Bavarian Alps to northern plains, with a temperate climate supporting agriculture. Major cities like Berlin (the capital), Munich, and Cologne host Catholic communities, with pilgrimage routes to Cologne Cathedral and Altötting. The terrain aids access to religious sites, though urban secularization limits engagement.

History

Germany’s history includes Roman settlements, the Holy Roman Empire, and unification in 1871, with modern Germany emerging post-1945. Catholicism, introduced in the 4th century AD, grew under Saint Boniface’s 8th-century missions, shaping the Holy Roman Empire. The 16th-century Protestant Reformation divided the region, but Catholicism endured in southern states. The Church navigates a secular state post-1949, balancing tradition with modern challenges.

Demographics

Germany’s 84 million people include 25% Catholics (21 million), 26% Protestants, 31% non-religious, and 5% Muslims. Ethnic groups are primarily German (87%), with Turkish and other minorities. Catholicism is strongest in Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland, but urban areas like Berlin show low practice due to secularization.

Catholic church

The Catholic Church in Germany comprises seven ecclesiastical provinces, 27 dioceses, and about 10,000 parishes, led by the German Bishops’ Conference. Leaders like Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising oversee education, charity, and social initiatives. The Church operates schools, hospitals, and charities, maintaining influence despite secular trends.

Structure

The Church’s seven provinces align with Germany’s regions.

• Archdiocese of Munich and Freising (Munich, Bavaria): Suffragan dioceses include Diocese of Augsburg (Augsburg), Diocese of Passau (Passau), Diocese of Regensburg (Regensburg).
• Archdiocese of Cologne (Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia): Suffragan dioceses include Diocese of Aachen (Aachen), Diocese of Essen (Essen), Diocese of Münster (Münster).
• Archdiocese of Berlin (Berlin): Suffragan dioceses include Diocese of Dresden-Meissen (Dresden), Diocese of Görlitz (Görlitz).
• Archdiocese of Freiburg im Breisgau (Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg): Suffragan dioceses include Diocese of Mainz (Mainz), Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart (Rottenburg).
• Archdiocese of Hamburg (Hamburg): Suffragan dioceses include Diocese of Hildesheim (Hildesheim), Diocese of Osnabrück (Osnabrück).
• Archdiocese of Paderborn (Paderborn, North Rhine-Westphalia): Suffragan dioceses include Diocese of Erfurt (Erfurt), Diocese of Fulda (Fulda).
• Archdiocese of Bamberg (Bamberg, Bavaria): Suffragan dioceses include Diocese of Eichstätt (Eichstätt), Diocese of Speyer (Speyer), Diocese of Würzburg (Würzburg).

Introduction of Catholicism

Catholicism was introduced in the 4th century AD in Roman Germania, with early Christian communities in Trier under bishops like Saint Agricius. Saint Boniface, the “Apostle to the Germans,” solidified Christianity in the 8th century, establishing dioceses like Mainz.

Key historical events

Saint Boniface’s establishment of the Diocese of Mainz in 745 AD marked a milestone in Church organization. The 1530s Protestant Reformation, led by Martin Luther, reduced Catholic dominance, but the 1555 Peace of Augsburg allowed Catholic regions to persist. The 19th-century Kulturkampf under Otto von Bismarck restricted Church influence, but Catholicism rebounded post-World War II.

Catholicism status

Catholicism, with 25% adherence, is a significant minority religion in a secular state under the 1949 Basic Law. The Church retains cultural and social influence but faces declining attendance due to secularization and debates over reforms like women’s ordination.

Cultural influence

Festivals and traditions

Catholics celebrate feasts like Corpus Christi with processions, especially in Bavaria, and Saint Martin’s Day (November 11) with lantern parades. Pilgrimages to Altötting’s Chapel of Grace maintain regional devotion.

Education and charity

The Church operates over 5,000 schools and numerous hospitals, serving millions. Caritas Germany addresses poverty, migration, and elderly care, aligning with Catholic Social Teaching.

Art and architecture

Catholic heritage shapes Germany’s art, with Gothic cathedrals like Cologne Cathedral and Aachen Cathedral. Baroque churches in Bavaria and medieval art, like the Isenheim Altarpiece, reflect Catholic themes.

Notable Catholic sites

Pilgrimage sites

Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO site, attracts millions for its Shrine of the Three Kings. The Chapel of Grace in Altötting draws pilgrims for its Black Madonna.

Historical churches

Aachen Cathedral, built in 805 AD, is a Carolingian masterpiece. Mainz Cathedral, built in 1080, is a Romanesque landmark.

Saints and blesseds

Patron saints

Saint Boniface, canonized in the 8th century, and Saint Michael the Archangel are celebrated on June 5 and September 29.

Associated saints and blesseds

Notable figures include Saint Boniface (canonized 739, Apostle to the Germans), Saint Hildegard of Bingen (canonized 2012, mystic), Saint Albert the Great (canonized 1931, theologian), Saint Edith Stein (canonized 1998, martyr), and Blessed Adolph Kolping (beatified 1991, social reformer).

Challenges to Catholicism

The Church faces secularization, with only 10% of Catholics attending Mass regularly, and internal debates over reforms like synodality. Responses include youth programs and ecumenical dialogue.

Social and political influence

The Church influences education, healthcare, and social justice, guided by Catholic Social Teaching. It engages in debates on migration and climate change but avoids political endorsements in the secular state.

External links

• "Germany". CIA World Factbook. 2024-12-01. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/germany/. 
• "Catholic Dioceses in Germany". GCatholic.org. 2025-01-22. http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/country/DE.htm. 
• "Catholicism in Germany". Catholics & Cultures. 2020-06-15. https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/germany.