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Alfred Bengsch

His Eminence
Alfred Bengsch
Cardinal, Archbishop (personal title) of Berlin
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-T0924-0004, Erfurt, 300 Jahre Wallfahrtskirche Worbis.jpg
Alfred Bengsch preaching in Worbis, 24 September 1978.
Church Roman Catholic
Diocese Berlin
Installed 16 August 1961
Term ended 13 December 1979
Predecessor Julius Döpfner
Successor Joachim Meisner
Orders
Ordination 2 April 1950
by Konrad von Preysing
Consecration 11 June 1959
by Julius Döpfner
Created Cardinal 26 June 1967
by Paul VI
Rank Cardinal Priest
Personal details
Born (1921-09-10)10 September 1921
Berlin, Prussia
German Reich
Died 13 December 1979(1979-12-13) (aged 58)
East Berlin, East Germany
Buried St. Hedwig's Cathedral
Nationality German
Denomination Roman Catholic
Coat of arms {{{coat_of_arms_alt}}}
Styles of
Alfred Bengsch
Coat of arms of Alfred Bengsch.svg
Reference style His Eminence
Spoken style Your Eminence
Informal style Cardinal
See Berlin

Alfred Bengsch (September 10, 1921 – December 13, 1979) was a German Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Berlin from 1961 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1967.

Alfred Bengsch was born in Berlin, and his father Leo was a postal worker. Entering a Jesuit gymnasium in 1932, he later attended the Superior School of Philosophy and Theology in Fulda, and the seminary in Neuzelle. During World War II, Bengsch was drafted by the German Army; in the course of his service, he was wounded and captured by the United States Army in August 1944.

He was eventually ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Konrad von Preysing on April 2, 1950. Bengsch then did pastoral work in Berlin until 1954, when he began teaching at the seminary in Erfurt, of which he was named regent on April 1, 1959. From 1956 to 1959, he also served as a professor at Neuzelle's seminary.

On May 2, 1959, Bengsch was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Berlin and Titular Bishop of Tubia. He received his episcopal consecration on the following June 11 from Cardinal Julius Döpfner. Bengsch succeeded Döpfner as Bishop of Berlin on August 16, 1961, three days after the erection of the Berlin Wall. During his tenure in Berlin, he was given a monthly permission to cross the Wall to minister to the Eastern portion of his flock. The German prelate was granted the personal title of "Archbishop" on January 14, 1962, and participated in the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965).


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