Retired Bishop of Erfurt Wanke Dying - Call for Prayer - Erfurt's first bishop enters palliative care after a historic Catholic legacy
Joachim Wanke, the first bishop of the Diocese of Erfurt, is now receiving palliative care as his health declines. His life and work have been closely tied to the Catholic Church in Thuringia, particularly during the historic papal visit of 2011. The diocese, established in 1994, has seen no major structural or membership changes since its founding under his leadership.
Born in Breslau (now Wrocław), Wanke grew up in Ilmenau before being ordained a priest in Erfurt in 1966. He later became a bishop in 1980, long before the diocese's official establishment. When the Diocese of Erfurt was created in 1994, he was appointed its first bishop, a role he held until 2012.
One of the defining moments of his episcopacy came in 2011, when Pope Benedict XVI made a historic visit to Thuringia. The pontiff celebrated Mass with Wanke at the pilgrimage church in Etzelsbach, located in the largely Catholic Eichsfeld region. Reflecting on the event, Wanke famously remarked, 'No new pope will come to Thuringia again in the next thousand years.'
Due to failing health, Wanke resigned in 2012, with Pope Benedict XVI accepting his request. Last week, he was hospitalised, and his condition soon required a transfer to palliative care. Bishop Ulrich Neymeyr, his successor, has since asked the faithful to pray for him.
Wanke's legacy remains tied to the Diocese of Erfurt, where he served for nearly two decades. His leadership included the historic papal visit, which marked a rare moment for the Catholic community in former East Germany. The diocese has not reported significant changes in structure or membership since its establishment under his guidance.
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