Today, April 6, 2018, Pope Francis appointed Fr. Heiner Wilmer, SCJ, as the new bishop of the Diocese of Hildesheim (Germany). Father Wilmer is the 10th Superior General of the Congregation of Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus – Dehonians. He will assume responsibility as the 71st pastor of the Diocese of Hildesheim.
The Diocese of Hildesheim, which includes the city of Hanover, is one of the oldest dioceses. It was founded in 815 and is located in northern Germany; it includes 30,000 square kilometers (over 18,500 square miles). The diocese has 119 parishes and iapproximately 610,000 Catholics. The pastoral work is carried out by 200 priests. Fr Wilmer, as new bishop, replaces Msgr. Norbert Trelle, who headed the diocese from 2006 until 2017.
More information on the diocese where Fr. Wilmer will take on his new ministry can be found here: www.bistum-hildesheim.de
