Roman Catholic Cardinal. Blieskastel born Joseph Wendel entered seminary in Speyer, later furthering his studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from where he obtained doctorates in philosophy and theology. Ordained priest there on October 30, 1927, back in Speyer he served among others as Cáritas director between 1927 and 1941. Elected coadjutor with right of succession of the see of Speyer at the age of thirty nine, Wendel received his episcopal consecration with the titular see of Lebesso on June 29, 1941 from the local Ordinary, Msgr. Ludwig Sebastian. Succeeding to the named see on June 4, 1943, he was promoted to the metropolitan see of München and Freising on August 9, 1952 following the demise of Cardinal Michael von Faulhaber. Pope Pius XII created him cardinal priest in the consistory of January 12, 1953 with the title of Santa Maria Nuova. Appointed vicar of the military ordinariate of Germany, Wendel organized the International Eucharistic Congress held in Münich in 1960. Passing away on December 31 that year of an unexpected heart attack shortly after delivering his New Year's Eve sermon in Münich, his remains are found interred in the crypt of the Frauenkirche of Münich.
Roman Catholic Cardinal. Blieskastel born Joseph Wendel entered seminary in Speyer, later furthering his studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from where he obtained doctorates in philosophy and theology. Ordained priest there on October 30, 1927, back in Speyer he served among others as Cáritas director between 1927 and 1941. Elected coadjutor with right of succession of the see of Speyer at the age of thirty nine, Wendel received his episcopal consecration with the titular see of Lebesso on June 29, 1941 from the local Ordinary, Msgr. Ludwig Sebastian. Succeeding to the named see on June 4, 1943, he was promoted to the metropolitan see of München and Freising on August 9, 1952 following the demise of Cardinal Michael von Faulhaber. Pope Pius XII created him cardinal priest in the consistory of January 12, 1953 with the title of Santa Maria Nuova. Appointed vicar of the military ordinariate of Germany, Wendel organized the International Eucharistic Congress held in Münich in 1960. Passing away on December 31 that year of an unexpected heart attack shortly after delivering his New Year's Eve sermon in Münich, his remains are found interred in the crypt of the Frauenkirche of Münich.
Bio by: Eman Bonnici
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See more Wendel memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
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