{{Short description|Swiss Roman Catholic cardinal (born 1950)}} {{About||the German football manager|Kurt Koch (football manager)|the Protestant theologian and writer|Kurt E. Koch|the Swiss sports shooter|Kurt Koch (sport shooter)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Cardinal | honorific-prefix = [[His Eminence]] | name = Kurt Koch | honorific-suffix = | title = [[Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity|President of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity]] | image = Kurt Koch par Claude Truong-Ngoc décembre 2016.jpg | imagesize = | motto = {{langx|la|Ut sit in omnibus Christus primatum tenens}} | alt = | caption = Koch pictured in December 2016. | church = Roman [[Catholic Church]] | archdiocese = | province = | metropolis = | diocese = | see = | appointed = 1 July 2010 | ended = | predecessor = [[Walter Kasper]] | successor = | other_post = [[Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews|President of the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews]] (2010-)<br>[[Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore|Cardinal-Priest 'pro hac vice' of Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore]] (2021-) | ordination = 20 June 1982 | ordained_by = Otto Wüst | consecration = 6 January 1996 | consecrated_by = [[Pope John Paul II]] | cardinal = 20 November 2010 | created_cardinal_by = [[Pope Benedict XVI]] | rank = [[Cardinal-Deacon]] (2010-21)<br>[[Cardinal-Priest]] (2021-) | previous_post = [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Basel|Bishop of Basel]] (1996–2010)<br>[[Episcopal Conference of Switzerland|President of the Swiss Episcopal Conference]] (2006-09)<br>Apostolic Administrator of Basel (2010)<br>[[Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore|Cardinal-Deacon of Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore]] (2010-21) <!---------- Personal details ---------->| birth_name = Kurt Koch | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|3|15|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Emmen, Switzerland|Emmenbrücke]], [[Switzerland]] | death_date = | death_place = | buried = | nationality = [[Swiss people|Swiss]] | religion = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] ([[Roman Rite]]) | coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Kurt Koch.svg | alma_mater = [[LMU Munich]]<br>[[University of Lucerne]] }}
{{Infobox cardinal styles | cardinal name = Kurt Koch | dipstyle = His Eminence | offstyle = Your Eminence | see = [[Bishopric of Basel|Basel]] ([[Emeritus]]) | image = Coat of arms of Kurt Koch.svg | image_size = 200px }}
'''Kurt Koch''' (born 15 March 1950) is a [[Switzerland|Swiss]] prelate of the [[Catholic Church]]. He has been a [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinal]] since November 2010 and president of the [[Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity]] since 1 July 2010. He was the bishop of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Basel|Basel]] from 1996 until 2010.
==Personal background== Koch was born in [[Emmen, Switzerland|Emmenbrücke]] in the canton of [[Luzern (canton)|Lucerne]]. He studied theology at [[LMU Munich]] and at the [[University of Lucerne]], graduating in 1975 with a [[Doctor of Theology]] degree. He was [[Holy Orders|ordained]] to the priesthood on 20 June 1982.
==Basel==
Koch was appointed Bishop of Basel on 6 December 1995. He received [[Bishop (Catholicism)|episcopal consecration]] on 6 January 1996 from John Paul II himself, with Archbishops [[Giovanni Battista Re]] and [[Jorge María Mejía]] serving as [[Consecrator|co-consecrators]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bkoch.html|title=Kurt Cardinal Koch [Catholic-Hierarchy]}}</ref>
When a group of Swiss [[intellectual]]s and [[Theology|theologians]] called for John Paul's [[Papal abdication|resignation]] on 20 May 2004, on the occasion of his 84th birthday, Koch described it as "disgusting and disloyal".<ref>{{cite news | publisher = Catholic News Agency | url = https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/1177/swiss-bishops-denounce-calls-for-pope-to-retire | title = Swiss bishops denounce calls for Pope to retire | date = 20 May 2004 | access-date = 16 May 2011 | archive-date = 27 September 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927220852/http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=1177 | url-status = live }}</ref> In 2006, he supported the freedom of Muslims to build [[minaret]]s in Switzerland, but also asked for greater [[Freedom of religion|religious freedom]] for Christians in [[Islam by country|Muslim countries]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.nzz.ch/2006/09/03/il/articleefod2_1.57462.html | title = Ich würde den Muslimen zugestehen, ein Minarett zu haben | language = de | publisher = Neue Zürcher Zeitung | date = 7 September 2006 | access-date = 16 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/Swiss_bishop_comes_out_in_favour_of_minarets.html?cid=5422348 | title = Swiss bishop comes out in favour of minarets | date = 3 September 2006 | access-date = 16 May 2011 | publisher = Swissinfo | quote = The problem is really not the strength of Islam but the weakness of Christianity. If we were to go back to our roots and stand behind our convictions we could approach other religions more openly. | archive-date = 13 September 2012 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120913233639/http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/Swiss_bishop_comes_out_in_favour_of_minarets.html?cid=5422348 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
On 27 June 2007, Koch, along with several other Catholic prelates, attended a briefing from the [[Cardinal Secretary of State]], [[Tarcisio Bertone]], at the [[Apostolic Palace]] on [[Pope Benedict XVI]]'s forthcoming [[Summorum Pontificum|allowing wider celebration]] of the [[Tridentine Mass]].<ref>{{cite news | first = John | last = Thavis | publisher = Catholic News Service | url = http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0703702.htm | archive-url = http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20070710203552/http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0703702.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = 10 July 2007 | title = Pope meets bishops, discusses decision on pre-Vatican II liturgy | date = 29 June 2007 | access-date = 16 May 2011 }}</ref>
In July 2007, Koch defended the [[Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]]'s document "Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church." He acknowledged that the document could appear confusing or hurtful to Protestants. He said the document's reception showed the difference between the [[Ecumenism|ecumenical]] goals of Catholics and the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] on the one hand and that of Protestants on the other.<ref>{{cite news | first = Cindy | last = Wooden | publisher = Catholic News Service | url = http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0703953.htm | archive-url = http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20070814192836/http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0703953.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = 14 August 2007 | title = Protestant groups dismayed at new document on identity of 'church' | date = 11 July 2007 | access-date = 16 May 2011 }}</ref>
Koch was President of the Swiss [[Episcopal Conference]] from 2007 until 2010. He is a member of the Swiss Council of Religions.
==Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity== Pope Benedict XVI announced the appointment of Koch as president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity on 1 July 2010, taking over from Cardinal [[Walter Kasper]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Rinuncia del Presidente del Pontificio Consiglio per la Promozione dell'Unità dei Cristiani e Nomina del Successore | publisher = Bulletin of the Holy See Press Office | date = 1 July 2010 | url = http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/25822.php?index=25822&lang=en | access-date = 16 May 2011 | language = it | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110728140007/http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/25822.php?index=25822&lang=en | archive-date = 28 July 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = WCC welcomes Vatican's new chief ecumenist | publisher = World Council of Churches | date = 30 June 2010 | url = http://www.oikoumene.org/news/news-management/eng/a/article/1634/wcc-welcomes-vaticans-ne.html | access-date = 16 May 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120308042518/http://www.oikoumene.org/news/news-management/eng/a/article/1634/wcc-welcomes-vaticans-ne.html | archive-date = 8 March 2012 }}</ref> Koch was made archbishop as well. He commented: "The Holy Father told me in February, in a personal audience, his desire that I would begin to lead this council. It is a great joy for me because ecumenism has always been in my heart since in my country, Switzerland, Protestants are very close to us and I have also had a particular interest in the Orthodox Churches."<ref>{{cite news | first = Carmen Elena | last = Villa | title = Why a Swiss Bishop for the Unity Council | date = 13 July 2010 | url = http://www.zenit.org/article-29881?l=english | publisher = ZENIT | access-date = 16 May 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110526020850/http://www.zenit.org/article-29881?l=english | archive-date = 26 May 2011 }}</ref>
On 16 October 2010, Pope Benedict appointed Koch as a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for a five-year renewable term.<ref>{{cite web | title = Nomina di Membri della Congregazione per la Dottrina della Fede | publisher = Bulletin of the Holy See Press Office | date = 16 October 2010 | access-date = 16 May 2011 | language = it | url = http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/26213.php | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101020012313/http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/26213.php | archive-date = 20 October 2010 }}</ref>
On 20 October 2010, Pope Benedict made him [[Cardinal-Deacon]] of [[Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2010/11/20/0719/01648.html|title=Assegnazione dei Titoli e delle Diaconie ai nuovi Cardinali|date=20 November 2010|website=[[Holy See|The Holy See]]|publisher=[[Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff|Ufficio delle Celebrazioni Liturgiche del Sommo Pontefice]]|language=it|trans-title=Assignment of Titles and Deaconries to the new Cardinals|access-date=5 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213003851/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2010/11/20/0719/01648.html|archive-date=13 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 29 December 2010, Koch was appointed a member of the [[Congregation for the Oriental Churches]] and the [[Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Nomina di Cardinali Membri dei Dicasteri della Curia Romana | publisher = Bulletin of the Holy See Press Office | date = 29 December 2010 | access-date = 16 May 2011 | language = it | url = http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/26621.php?index=26621 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120320184253/http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/26621.php?index=26621 | archive-date = 20 March 2012 }}</ref>
Koch headed the Vatican's delegation to [[Istanbul]], Turkey to the [[Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople]], [[Patriarch Bartholomew I]], for the Feast of [[Saint Andrew]] the Apostle on 30 November 2010 (the Patriarchate sends a delegation each year in turn for the Solemnity of the Holy Apostles [[Saint Peter]] and [[Saint Paul]] on 29 June). He co-presided over a meeting of the [[Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church]] in [[Vienna]], Austria in September 2010 with Metropolitan [[John Zizioulas]] of [[Pergamon]].
On 4 May 2011 Pope Benedict appointed Koch a member of the [[Congregation for the Causes of Saints]]. The five-year term will be renewed until his 80th birthday.
In his role as president of the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, Koch spoke to reporters on 16 May 2011, after delivering a speech on Catholic-Jewish relations in light of Vatican II's declaration ''[[Nostra aetate]]'' on the Church's relations with non-Christian religions. The speech followed Koch's participation in a meeting of the doctrinal congregation to examine the latest progress in the Vatican's [[Dialogue between the Society of St. Pius X and the Holy See|reconciliation talks]] with the [[Traditional Catholicism|traditionalist]] [[Society of Saint Pius X]]. "There are questions to clarify in discussions with this community. I can't say more than that", he told reporters, echoing a Vatican statement saying the reconciliation talks are ongoing. Koch noted that "All the doctrinal decisions of the church are binding on a Catholic, including the [[Second Vatican Council]] and all its texts", Koch said when asked if the SSPX would be expected to accept all the teachings of Vatican II. "The ''Nostra aetate'' declaration of the Second Vatican Council is a clear decree and is important for every Catholic", he added.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1202023.htm |title=catholicnews.com |access-date=19 May 2012 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20121205205921/http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1202023.htm |archive-date=5 December 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
16 May 2012, Koch gave the Pope John Paul II Lecture on Interreligious Understanding at the [[Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas]] (''Angelicum''). Koch spoke on the theme of "Building on ''Nostra aetate'': 50 Years of Christian-Jewish Dialogue".
On 30 October 2012, Koch stated in an interview that, if Lutherans express a wish for an arrangement similar to the personal ordinariates for former Anglicans, the Catholic Church will have to reflect on it, but that the initiative must come from Lutherans.<ref name="Cardinal Koch Interview: Progressives and Traditonalists are in same hosptial (German)">{{cite web |url = http://www.zenit.org/article-35839?l=english |title = Progressives and traditionalists suffer from the same ailment |work = [[Zenit News Agency]] |access-date = 30 October 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121103084435/http://www.zenit.org/article-35839?l=english |archive-date = 3 November 2012}}</ref><ref name="Vatican cardinal opens door to Lutheran ordinariates" >{{cite web|url= http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=16080 |title=Vatican cardinal opens door to Lutheran ordinaraites |work=catholiccultre.org |access-date=30 October 2012}}</ref>
He was one of the [[Cardinal electors in Papal conclave, 2013|cardinal electors]] who participated in the [[Papal conclave, 2013|2013 papal conclave]] that elected [[Pope Francis]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Koch Card. Kurt |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_koch_k.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113191111/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_koch_k.html |archive-date=13 November 2016 |access-date=5 August 2018 |website=[[Holy See Press Office]]}}</ref>
On Saturday, 30 November 2013, [[Pope Francis]] named Cardinal Koch a Member of the [[Congregation for Catholic Education]].<ref>{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2013/11/30/0795/01791.html | language = it | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 30.11.2013 | date = 30 November 2013 | access-date = 6 March 2021 }}</ref> He was appointed a member of the [[Congregation for Bishops]].<ref>[http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/de/bollettino/pubblico/2013/12/16/0845/01901.html press.vatican.va]</ref>
After ten years at the rank of cardinal deacon, he exercised his option to assume the rank of cardinal priest, which Pope Francis confirmed on 3 May 2021.<ref>{{cite press release | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2021/05/03/0267/00580.html | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 3 May 2021 | title = Concistoro Ordinario Pubblico per il Voto su alcune Cause di Canonizzazione, 03.05.2021 | date = 3 May 2021 | language = it | url-status = live | archive-date = 3 May 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210503154853/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2021/05/03/0267/00580.html }}</ref>
He was once again a [[Cardinal electors in the 2025 papal conclave|cardinal elector]] in the [[2025 papal conclave]] that elected [[Pope Leo XIV]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html| title=Cardinal Electors|date=6 May 2025|publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy.org|language=en|access-date=6 May 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506193115/https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html|archive-date=6 May 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
In a 2025 letter addressed to Bishop [[Sarah Mullally]], Cardinal Koch, offered his congratulations and expressed the Catholic Church’s support for her new ministry as [[Archbishop of Canterbury]].<ref>[https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2025-10/cardinal-kock-ecumenism-archbishop-canterbury-sarah-mullally.html Cardinal Koch congratulates Archbishop-designate of Canterbury Sarah Mullally]</ref> He showed a more critical view of her appointment, in November 2025, and of the current divisions in the [[Anglican Communion]], with the development of the [[Global Anglican Future Conference]], expressing his uncertainty about with whom the Catholic Church should direct more his ecumenism in the future. He said: “Who will we dialogue with in the future if the Anglican world community is so divided?”<ref>[https://anglican.ink/2025/11/03/cardinal-takes-a-critical-view-of-appointment-of-future-anglican-primate/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQwN4pleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEedY7Phmc6kTasB7RBupE2KiLg-3G5nxRD-_Z7BGWAKaFMwCKAjegmP5MSk38_aem_LpPGe5vYCWiUFeFWOx_o5g Cardinal Takes a Critical View of Appointment of Future Anglican Primate, Anglican Ink, 3 November 2025]</ref>
In 2025 he was named president of pontifical foundation [[Aid to the Church in Need]], succeeding [[Mauro Piacenza|Cardinal Mauro Piacenza]] in the position.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{wikiquote}} {{commons category}} * {{cite web | access-date= 25 November 2017 | title= Koch Card. Kurt | publisher= [[Holy See Press Office]] | url= https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_koch_k.html | url-status= live | archive-date= 13 November 2016 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161113191111/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_koch_k.html }} * [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bkoch.html Catholic-Hierarchy] [[Wikipedia:SPS|{{sup|[''self-published'']}}]] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110706222702/http://www.bistum-basel.ch/seite.php?na=3,4,1,0,f Diocese of Basel] {{in lang|fr}}
{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef|before=[[Hansjörg Vogel]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Diocese of Basel|Bishop of Basel]]|years=6 December 1995 – 1 July 2010}} {{s-aft|after=[[Felix Gmür]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Amédée Grab]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Episcopal Conference of Switzerland|President of the Swiss Episcopal Conference]]|years=2006 – 2009}} {{s-aft|after=[[Norbert Brunner (bishop)|Norbert Brunner]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Walter Kasper]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity|President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity]]|years=1 July 2010 –}} {{s-inc|rows=2}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[José Saraiva Martins]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore|Cardinal-Deacon of Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore]]|years=20 November 2010 –}} {{s-end}}
{{Cardinals created by Benedict XVI}} {{Cardinals of the Catholic Church|state=collapsed}} {{Subject bar |portal1= Biography |portal2= Christianity |portal3= Switzerland}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Koch, Kurt}} [[Category:1950 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity]] [[Category:Bishops of Basel]] [[Category:20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Switzerland]] [[Category:21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in Switzerland]] [[Category:Swiss cardinals]] [[Category:Cardinals created by Pope Benedict XVI]] [[Category:Members of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints]] [[Category:Members of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches]] [[Category:Members of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith]] [[Category:Members of the Congregation for Bishops]] [[Category:Roman Catholic titular archbishops]] [[Category:Grand Crosses with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]