Bishop Karl-Heinz Wiesemann to hold farewell service in Speyer

Bishop Karl-Heinz Wiesemann is set to conclude his nearly two-decade tenure as the head of the Diocese of Speyer. His final formal appearance will take place on Sunday, September 13, at the UNESCO-protected Speyer Cathedral.

The 66-year-old bishop requested his resignation due to health concerns, a request that was accepted by Pope Leo XIV in August. The farewell service is expected to draw regional believers, church officials, and representatives from various ecclesiastical associations.

Notable attendees include Heiner Wilmer, Chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, and Udo Markus Bentz, the former Archbishop of Paderborn. The service will also feature representatives from ecumenical groups, such as Dorothee Wüst and Verena Hammes. Wiesemann is scheduled to deliver the sermon during the ceremony, which will include musical performances by the Cathedral Youth Choir, the Cathedral Choir, and the Cathedral instrumentalists.