Back Seznam kolínských biskupů a arcibiskupů Czech Liste der Erzbischöfe und Bischöfe von Köln German Liste des archevêques de Cologne French Kölni püspökök és érsekek listája Hungarian ケルン大司教 Japanese Lėßß met de kölsche Bėschhövv un Ääzbėschhöff KSH Келнски архиепископ Macedonian Lijst van bisschoppen en aartsbisschoppen van Keulen Dutch Liste over erkebiskoper av Köln NB Biskupi i arcybiskupi Kolonii Polish
The archbishop of Cologne governs the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cologne in western North Rhine-Westphalia. Historically the archbishop ruled a state of the Holy Roman Empire and was ex officio one of the prince-electors, the elector of Cologne, from 1356 to 1801.
Since the early days of the Catholic Church, there have been ninety-four bishops and archbishops of Cologne. Seven of these ninety-four retired by resignation, including four resignations which were in response to impeachment. Eight of the bishops and archbishops were coadjutor bishops before they took office. Seven individuals were appointed as coadjutors freely by the pope. One of the ninety-four moved to the Curia, where he became a cardinal. Additionally, six of the archbishops of Cologne were chairmen of the German Bishops' Conference.
Cardinal Rainer Woelki has been the archbishop of Cologne since his 2014 transfer from Berlin, where he was also cardinal archbishop.