Georg von Kopp

Georg von Kopp (25 July 1837 – 4 March 1914) was a German Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Bishop of Fulda (1881–87) and Prince-Bishop of Breslau (1881–1914). He was known for his anti-Polish views and pursued the Germanization of Polish Catholics in his dioceses.

His Eminence

Georg von Kopp
Bishop of Breslau
DioceseBreslau
SeeBreslau
Appointed9 August 1887
Term ended4 March 1914
PredecessorRobert Herzog
SuccessorAdolf Bertram
Other postsCardinal-Priest of Sant'Agnese fuori le mura
Orders
Ordination28 August 1862
Consecration27 December 1881
by Daniel Wilhelm Sommerwerk
Created cardinal16 January 1893
by Pope Leo XIII
RankCardinal Priest
Personal details
Born(1837-07-25)25 July 1837
Duderstadt, Kingdom of Hanover
Died4 March 1914(1914-03-04) (aged 76)
Opava, Austrian Silesia
DenominationRoman Catholic
Previous postBishop of Fulda (1881-1887)
Coat of arms

Biography

Kopp was born in Duderstadt in the Kingdom of Hanover. He was the son of a weaver and attended the gymnasium at Hildesheim. In 1856 he became a telegraph operator in the employ of the Hanoverian government. From 1858 to 1861, he studied theology and in 1862 entered the priesthood. He rose rapidly in his profession and in 1872 was made vicar-general at Hildesheim and three years later bishop of Fulda. He worked to bring about a better understanding between the German government and the papal curia. After his election to the House of Lords he obtained a mitigation of the anti-Catholic provisions which characterized the May laws.

In 1887, with the approval of the Prussian government, the Pope appointed him prince-bishop of Breslau(Wroclaw), and in 1893 he was made cardinal. As prince bishop he pursued Germanization and censured those priests whom he suspected as resisting these measures, opposed used of Polish in classes and communion and tried secretly to discourage Polish faithful from making pilgrimages to Krakow[1] As He was made Cardinal by Pope Leo XIII in 1893. He took part in the 1903 conclave which elected Pope Pius X. Kopp died in Opava in Austrian Silesia.

Notes

  1. German Nationalism and Religious Conflict: Culture, Ideology, Politics, 1870-1914 Helmut Walser Smith July 2014, page 189-190

References

  • This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rines, George Edwin, ed. (1920). "Kopp, Georg" . Encyclopedia Americana.
  • Salvador Miranda: The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Christoph Florentius Kött
Bishop of Fulda
1881 - 1887
Succeeded by
Joseph Weyland
Preceded by
Robert Herzog
Prince-Bishop of Breslau
1887-1914
Succeeded by
Adolf Bertram
Preceded by
Charles-Martial Allemand-Lavigerie
Cardinal Priest of Sant'Agnese fuori le mura
1893–1914
Succeeded by
Karoly Hornig
Preceded by
Philipp Krementz
Chairman of the Fulda Conference of Catholic Bishops
1897-1913
Succeeded by
Felix von Hartmann
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