10 Facts About Heiner Koch

Heiner Koch was born on 13 June 1954 and is a German prelate of the Catholic Church.

Heiner Koch has been the Archbishop of Berlin since September 2015.

Heiner Koch was an auxiliary bishop in Cologne from 2006 to 2013 and Bishop of Dresden-Meissen from 2013 to 2015.

Heiner Koch studied theology, philosophy and education at the University of Bonn and completed his examinations in education science.

Heiner Koch was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Cologne on 13 June 1980, his 26th birthday.

Heiner Koch held a variety of positions in Cologne and was often involved in youth ministry.

Heiner Koch was consecrated a bishop on 7 May 2006 by Joachim Meisner, Archbishop of Cologne, with Manfred Melzer and Rainer Maria Woelki as co-consecrators.

Heiner Koch chose as his episcopal motto the Latin phrase Gaudete semper Dominus prope, "Rejoice always, the Lord is near", taken from the Epistle to the Philippians Phil 4:4.

Heiner Koch told the Synod that theological arguments against allowing Catholics in irregular marriages to receive Communion "do not silence the questions in the hearts of people".

Heiner Koch said "As a Church, we respect same-sex partnerships in which mutual responsibility and care are taken" but he argued for maintaining a distinction between same-sex and different-sex relationships: "differentiation isn't discrimination, and same-sex cohabitation can be valued through other institutional arrangements without opening up the legal institute of marriage".