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Joseph WerthCatholic Bishop, Ordinary of the Transfiguration Diocese in Novosibirsk
Date of Birth: 04.10.1952
Country:  Uzbekistan |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Entering the Jesuit Order and Priesthood
- Mission in Kazakhstan and Russia
- Appointment as Bishop
- Creation of the Diocese of Novosibirsk
- Leadership in the Catholic Church
- Awards and Honors
Early Life and Education
Josef Werth was born on October 4, 1952, in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, to Russian-German Catholic parents who had been exiled to the region. In 1972, he served in the Soviet Army's air defense forces.
Entering the Jesuit Order and Priesthood
In August 1975, Werth joined the underground Jesuit novitiate in Lithuania, becoming a monk two years later. In 1979, he enrolled in the Kaunas Theological Seminary and was ordained a priest on May 27, 1984.
Mission in Kazakhstan and Russia
After serving in Lithuania, Werth was sent to Aktyubinsk, Kazakhstan, in 1985. In 1987, he moved to Marks in the Povolzhye region, where he ministered to the returning German population.
Appointment as Bishop
In 1991, Werth was appointed Apostolic Administrator for Catholics in Asian Russia and consecrated as a bishop. He served as Titular Bishop of Bulla till 2002. After the division of the administration in 1998, he became the leader of Western Siberia's Catholics.
Creation of the Diocese of Novosibirsk
In 2002, Werth became the head of the newly established Catholic Diocese of Novosibirsk, with its center in the city of Novosibirsk. In December 2004, he was appointed Ordinary for Russian Catholics of the Byzantine rite.
Leadership in the Catholic Church
In January 2005, Werth was elected as Chairman of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Russia (KKEP) for a second term in 2008. In 2011, he stepped down as Chairman, passing the position to Archbishop Paolo Pezzi. Since February 2014, he has been a member of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.
Awards and Honors
- Commander of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2005)
- Medal for Contribution to the Development of Novosibirsk Oblast (2013)
