Karl-Josef Rauber (11 April 1934 – 26 March 2023) was a German prelate of the Catholic Church who served as an apostolic nuncio from 1982 until his retirement in 2009. He was created a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2015.
After graduating from St.-Michaels-Gymnasium of Metten Abbey in 1950, Rauber studied Catholic theology and philosophy at the University of Mainz. On 28 February 1959, he was ordained in Mainz Cathedral by Bishop Albert Stohr. He was a chaplain in Nidda and in 1962 earned a doctoral degree in canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. At the same time, he attended the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. At the State Secretariat beginning in 1966, Rauber was one of four secretaries of the Substitute of the Secretariat of State, Archbishop Giovanni Benelli. He was primarily responsible for the German-speaking territories.[1]Pope Paul VI awarded him on 22 December 1976 the title of Honorary Prelate of His Holiness.[2] In 1977 he was Nuntiaturrat in Belgium and Luxembourg and 1981 in Greece.[1]
On 18 December 1982, Pope John Paul II appointed him Titular Archbishop of Iubaltiana and pro-nuncio to Uganda. Pope John Paul II also consecrated him as bishop on 6 January 1983. Co-consecrators were the ex officio in the Vatican Secretariat of State, Eduardo Martínez Somalo and the Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy. His motto was "Caritas Christi urget nos" (The love of Christ drives us, also sometimes translated as The love of Christ impels us[3]).
On 22 January 1990, Pope John Paul II appointed Rauber as President of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, a post he held until 16 March 1993. In 1991, he was assigned to investigate the problems encountered in the Diocese of Chur by Bishop Wolfgang Haas.[1] He continued to have responsibility for that troubled diocese when he returned to the diplomatic service of the Holy See when he was named Apostolic Nuncio to Switzerland on 16 March 1993[4] and to Liechtenstein on 17 April 1993.[5] Though Cardinal Josef Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI, criticized him for failing to support Haas against his critics, Rauber's solution, moving Haas to Liechtenstein, proved effective and long-lasting.[1][6] His next appointment was on 25 April 1997 as Apostolic Nuncio to Hungary and Moldova.[7] On 22 February 2003, he was named Apostolic Nuncio to Belgium and Luxembourg.[8] When the Church leadership in Rome passed over his recommendation of three candidates for the position of Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels and Pope Benedict XVI named André-Joseph Léonard to the position instead, Rauber objected publicly and described Léonard as wholly unsuited for the appointment.[9][10]
Pope Benedict XVI accepted his resignation for reasons of age in 2009.
On 4 January 2015, Pope Francis announced that he would make him a cardinal on 14 February.[11] At that ceremony, he was created Cardinal-Deacon of the titular church of Sant'Antonio di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia.[12] His appointment was called "surprising", and Bayerischer Rundfunk reported "much speculation that perhaps Francis deliberately wanted to honor a man who did not always have an easy time with the Roman system".[6]
Rauber died in Rottenburg near Tübingen, on 26 March 2023, at the age of 88.[13][6] He had lived there in retirement with the Schoenstatt sisters. He had been in poor health for several years and was weakened by the COVID-19 virus in 2022.[6]
^ abcdHelmut Krätzl (9 November 2009). "Laudatio für Erzbischof Dr. Karl-Josef Rauber" (PDF). kath.ch. Katholischer Mediendienst. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
karl, josef, rauber, april, 1934, march, 2023, german, prelate, catholic, church, served, apostolic, nuncio, from, 1982, until, retirement, 2009, created, cardinal, pope, francis, 2015, eminenceapostolic, nunciorauber, 2007appointed22, february, 2003term, ende. Karl Josef Rauber 11 April 1934 26 March 2023 was a German prelate of the Catholic Church who served as an apostolic nuncio from 1982 until his retirement in 2009 He was created a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2015 His EminenceKarl Josef RauberApostolic NuncioRauber in 2007Appointed22 February 2003Term ended18 June 2009PredecessorPier Luigi CelataSuccessorGiacinto BerlocoOther post s Cardinal Deacon of Sant Antonio di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia 2015 2023 OrdersOrdination28 February 1959by Albert StohrConsecration6 January 1983by Pope John Paul IICreated cardinal14 February 2015by Pope FrancisRankCardinal DeaconPersonal detailsBornKarl Josef Rauber 1934 04 11 11 April 1934Nuremberg GermanyDied26 March 2023 2023 03 26 aged 88 Rottenburg am Neckar GermanyDenominationRoman CatholicPrevious post s Apostolic Nuncio to Hungary and Moldova 1997 2003 Apostolic Nuncio to Switzerland and Liechtenstein 1993 1997 President of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy 1990 1993 Titular Archbishop of Iubaltiana 1983 2015 Apostolic Pro Nuncio to Uganda 1982 1990 MottoCaritas Christi urget nos The Love of Christ compels us Coat of arms Ordination history of Karl Josef RauberHistoryPriestly ordinationDate28 February 1959Episcopal consecrationPrincipal consecratorPope John Paul IICo consecratorsEduardo Martinez SomaloDuraisamy Simon LourdusamyDate6 January 1983CardinalateElevated byPope FrancisDate14 February 2015 Styles of Karl Josef RauberReference styleHis EminenceSpoken styleYour EminenceInformal styleCardinal Contents 1 Biography 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksBiography editAfter graduating from St Michaels Gymnasium of Metten Abbey in 1950 Rauber studied Catholic theology and philosophy at the University of Mainz On 28 February 1959 he was ordained in Mainz Cathedral by Bishop Albert Stohr He was a chaplain in Nidda and in 1962 earned a doctoral degree in canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome At the same time he attended the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy At the State Secretariat beginning in 1966 Rauber was one of four secretaries of the Substitute of the Secretariat of State Archbishop Giovanni Benelli He was primarily responsible for the German speaking territories 1 Pope Paul VI awarded him on 22 December 1976 the title of Honorary Prelate of His Holiness 2 In 1977 he was Nuntiaturrat in Belgium and Luxembourg and 1981 in Greece 1 On 18 December 1982 Pope John Paul II appointed him Titular Archbishop of Iubaltiana and pro nuncio to Uganda Pope John Paul II also consecrated him as bishop on 6 January 1983 Co consecrators were the ex officio in the Vatican Secretariat of State Eduardo Martinez Somalo and the Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy His motto was Caritas Christi urget nos The love of Christ drives us also sometimes translated as The love of Christ impels us 3 On 22 January 1990 Pope John Paul II appointed Rauber as President of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy a post he held until 16 March 1993 In 1991 he was assigned to investigate the problems encountered in the Diocese of Chur by Bishop Wolfgang Haas 1 He continued to have responsibility for that troubled diocese when he returned to the diplomatic service of the Holy See when he was named Apostolic Nuncio to Switzerland on 16 March 1993 4 and to Liechtenstein on 17 April 1993 5 Though Cardinal Josef Ratzinger later Pope Benedict XVI criticized him for failing to support Haas against his critics Rauber s solution moving Haas to Liechtenstein proved effective and long lasting 1 6 His next appointment was on 25 April 1997 as Apostolic Nuncio to Hungary and Moldova 7 On 22 February 2003 he was named Apostolic Nuncio to Belgium and Luxembourg 8 When the Church leadership in Rome passed over his recommendation of three candidates for the position of Archbishop of Mechelen Brussels and Pope Benedict XVI named Andre Joseph Leonard to the position instead Rauber objected publicly and described Leonard as wholly unsuited for the appointment 9 10 Pope Benedict XVI accepted his resignation for reasons of age in 2009 On 4 January 2015 Pope Francis announced that he would make him a cardinal on 14 February 11 At that ceremony he was created Cardinal Deacon of the titular church of Sant Antonio di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia 12 His appointment was called surprising and Bayerischer Rundfunk reported much speculation that perhaps Francis deliberately wanted to honor a man who did not always have an easy time with the Roman system 6 Rauber died in Rottenburg near Tubingen on 26 March 2023 at the age of 88 13 6 He had lived there in retirement with the Schoenstatt sisters He had been in poor health for several years and was weakened by the COVID 19 virus in 2022 6 See also editCardinals created by Pope Francis List of heads of the diplomatic missions of the Holy SeeReferences edit a b c d Helmut Kratzl 9 November 2009 Laudatio fur Erzbischof Dr Karl Josef Rauber PDF kath ch Katholischer Mediendienst Retrieved 5 January 2015 Annuario Pontificio per l anno 1982 Citta del Vaticano 1982 S 1936 The love of Christ impels us Bishop elect Rivituso ready to serve Archdiocese of St Louis Acta Apostolicae Sedis PDF Vol LXXXV 1993 p 395 Retrieved 3 December 2019 Acta Apostolicae Sedis PDF Vol LXXXV 1993 p 461 Retrieved 3 December 2019 a b c d Deutscher Kardinal Karl Josef Rauber mit 88 Jahren verstorben in German Bayerischer Rundfunk 27 March 2023 Retrieved 28 March 2023 Acta Apostolicae Sedis PDF Vol LXXXIX 1997 p 312 Retrieved 3 December 2019 Rinunce e Nomine 22 02 2003 Press release in Italian Holy See Press Office 22 February 2003 Retrieved 12 August 2019 Francesco Strazzari 2010 La scelta di Leonard Intervista con l ex nunzio mons Karl Josef Rauber Il Regno Actualita in Italian pp 85 ff Archived from the original on 5 January 2015 Retrieved 5 January 2015 Mickens Robert 5 January 2015 Francis chooses new cardinals from the margins National Catholic Reporter Retrieved 7 January 2015 Annuncio di Concistoro per la creazione di nuovi Cardinali in Italian Holy See Press Office 4 January 2015 Retrieved 6 January 2015 Consistory list of titular church assignments Vatican Radio 14 February 2015 Retrieved 14 February 2015 German Cardinal Rauber long serving diplomat passes away Vatican News 27 March 2023 Retrieved 28 March 2023 External links edit Rauber Card Karl Josef Holy See Press Office Archived from the original on 19 September 2016 Retrieved 30 October 2017 Diplomatic posts Preceded byHenri Lemaitre Apostolic Pro Nuncio to Uganda18 December 1982 22 January 1990 Succeeded byLuis Robles Diaz Educational offices Preceded byJustin Francis Rigali President of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy1990 1993 Succeeded byGabriel Montalvo Higuera Diplomatic posts Preceded byEdoardo Rovida Apostolic Nuncio to Switzerland and Liechtenstein16 March 1993 25 April 1997 Succeeded byOriano Quilici Preceded byAngelo Acerbi Apostolic Nuncio to Hungary25 April 1997 22 February 2003 Succeeded byJuliusz Janusz Preceded byAngelo Acerbi Apostolic Nuncio to Moldova25 April 1997 22 February 2003 Succeeded byJean Claude Perisset Preceded byPier Luigi Celata Apostolic Nuncio to Belgium22 February 2003 18 June 2009 Succeeded byGiacinto Berloco Catholic Church titles Preceded byJulien Ries Cardinal Deacon of Sant Antonio di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia2015 2023 Succeeded byVacant Portals nbsp Biography nbsp Christianity nbsp Germany Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Karl Josef Rauber amp oldid 1198033770, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
