Cardinal Friedrich Wetter is a retired Archbishop of Munich and Freising and former professor of dogmatic theology whose ecclesiastical career spans over half a century of service.

Born on February 20, 1928, in Landau, Germany, Wetter began his academic journey studying philosophy at St. George in Frankfurt before moving to Rome to study theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Wetter was ordained priest on October 10, 1953, and subsequently completed his doctorate in theology, focusing on the problem of life after death.

Wetter’s academic career flourished as he became a professor of theology at various institutions. He taught at the advanced institute of philosophy and theology in Eichstatt in 1962 and later became a professor of dogmatic theology at the University of Mainz in 1967. His scholarly work includes a significant contribution on the Trinity doctrine of John Duns Scotus.

In 1968, Wetter’s ecclesiastical career took a significant turn when he was elected Bishop of Speyer on May 28 and ordained on June 29. After serving for fourteen years, he was appointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising on October 28, 1982. Wetter’s influence in the Church continued to grow, and on May 25, 1985, he was created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope John Paul II, with the title of S. Stefano al Monte Celio.

Throughout his tenure, Cardinal Wetter held several important positions within the Church. He chaired the Freising Bishops Conference and led the faith commission of the German Bishops’ Conference from 1981 to 2008. He also participated in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI.

On February 2, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI accepted Wetter’s resignation as Archbishop of Munich and Freising, though he continued to serve as apostolic administrator until the installation of his successor, Reinhard Marx, in 2008.

In his later years, Wetter faced controversy regarding the handling of sexual abuse cases during his tenure as archbishop, as highlighted in a January 2022 report. Cardinal Wetter disputed some of the findings but also issued an apology, expressing  shame and sadness for not fulfilling his duty to protect children and young people to the necessary extent, especially with regard to the handling of one particular priest abuser.

Cardinal Friedrich Wetter’s life and career have been marked by significant contributions to Catholic theology, leadership in the German Catholic Church. His legacy encompasses both his scholarly work and his pastoral leadership, reflecting the complexities of modern Catholic hierarchy.