German Cardinal Rauber, long-serving diplomat, passes away

German Cardinal Karl-Josef Rauber, former apostolic nuncio, dies on Sunday evening at the age of 88, following a life of diplomatic service on behalf of the Holy See.

Mar 28, 2023

ROME: Cardinal Karl-Josef Rauber, former Apostolic Nuncio, passed away on Mach 26, Sunday.

Born in the diocese of Bamberg, Germany on April 11 1934, in 1950, he obtained a diploma from the St. Michaels-Gymnasium of the Benedictine Order in Metten. He then studied theology and philosophy at the University of Mainz.

He was ordained a priest in the Cathedral of Mainz on February 28 1959.

In 1962, he transferred to Rome, where he obtained a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University, and he entered the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy.

Long-service in diplomacy
On October 1 1966, he entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See and worked at the Secretariat of State until 1977 eventually becoming responsible for the German section. He subsequently worked in the apostolic nunciature in Belgium, Luxembourg and Greece.

On December 181982, he was appointed as Apostolic Pro-Nuncio in Uganda and assigned the titular see of Iubaltiana. He received episcopal consecration on 6 January 1983. Following his mission in Uganda, in January 1990 he was nominated president of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy.

On March 16 2003, he was appointed as apostolic nuncio in Switzerland and in Liechtenstein.

On April 25 1997, he assumed the role of apostolic nuncio in Hungary and Moldova.

On February 22 2003, he was appointed as apostolic nuncio in Belgium and in Luxembourg, concluding his mandates in June-July 2009.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of February 14 2015, of the Deaconry of Sant’Antonio di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia (St. Anthony of Padua at Circonvallazione Appia).

With his passing, the College of Cardinals consists of 222 cardinals, of whom 123 are electors and 99 are non-electors.--Vatican News