College of Cardinals

Biographical notes

[Updated: 22.02.2014]

Notice: the biographical notes are only a working instrument for the press.

Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, archbishop-bishop emeritus of Regensburg,  was born in Mainz (Germany) on 31 December 1947.

He studied philosophy and theology in Magonza, Munich and Freiburg in Brisgovia, graduating in 1977 with Prof. Dr. Karl Lehmann, with a thesis entitled "Kirche und im Sakramente religionslosen Christentum. Bonhoeffers Beitrag zu einer Ökumenischen Sakramententheologie (Church and sacraments in non-religious Christianity. Bonhoeffer's contribution to an ecumenical theology of the sacraments)"

He was ordained a priest on 11 February 1978 for the diocese of Mainz.

He served as parochial vicar at Klein Krotzenburg, Bürstadt-St. Michael and Offenbach-St. Joseph (1978-1982). He taught religion in high schools in Büdingen and Nidda.

In 1985, along with Prof. Dr. Karl Lehmann in Freiburg im Breisgau, he presented a dissertation on "Gemeinschaft und der Verehrung Heiligenstadt. Geschichtlich - systematische Grundlegung der Hagiologie (Communion and veneration of the saints. Historical and systematic basis of Hagiology)".

From 1986 to 2002, he was professor of dogmatic theology at the Catholic Theological Faculty of the "Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität" in Munich of Bavaria.

At the same time, he attended a number of universities as visiting professor: Cusco (Peru), Madrid (San Damaso), Philadelphia (USA), Kerala (India), Santiago de Compostela, Salamanca (Spain), the Pontifical Lateran University (Rome), Lugano (Switzerland) and San Paulo (Brazil).

During his career as professor of dogmatic theology (1986-2002), he was co-responsible for the pastoral care of the parish of Christ's Passion in Munich of Bavaria. Since 1990, he has worked for the dissemination and preservation of the heritage of the Catholic faith as a member of the Commission for the Faith of the German Bishops' Conference, and from 1998 to 2003, as a member of the International Theological Commission. In 1999 he was appointed as peritus (theological consultant) of the Special Synod for Europe and as a theological advisor to the Synod of Bishops, held in Rome in 2001 on the theme: "The Servant Bishop of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the hope of the World". In 2005, he took part as a Synod Father to the Synod of Bishops on the theme "The Eucharist, source and summit of the life and mission of the Church".

On 1 October 2002 Pope John Paul II appointed him as bishop of Regensburg (Federal Republic of Germany). He received Episcopal consecration on 24 November of the same year.

As bishop of Regensburg and a member of the German Bishops' Conference, he has dealt in particular with new evangelization and ecumenism, promoting the apostolate of the laity and humanitarian projects for countries in the developing world. His Episcopal motto is "Dominus Jesus" ("Jesus is Lord"), taken from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans.

In Regensburg, he founded the Pope Benedict XVI institute, responsible for publishing the complete works of Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI.

On 2 July 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and president of the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei", the Pontifical Biblical Commission and the International Theological Commission, elevating him to the dignity of archbishop.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of 22 February 2014, of the Deaconry of Sant’Agnese in Agone.

A biography with the detailed list of the scientific work of Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller is available on the Vatican website: