Resignation and appointment of auxiliary bishop of Essen, Germany

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Essen, Germany, presented by Bishop Wilhelm Zimmermann.

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Andreas Geßmann, of the clergy of Essen, Germany, until now parish priest of St. Laurentius in Essen, as auxiliary bishop of the same diocese, assigning him the titular see of Castro di Sardegna.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Andreas Geßmann was born on 16 January 1969 in Wesel, in the diocese of Münster. He carried out his university studies in public administration and, after work experience in the administration of the city of Wesel, he studied theology at the Ruhr-Universität of Bochum.

He was ordained a priest on 6 June 2003.

After ordination, he first served as parish vicar of St. Andreas in Essen-Rüttenscheid (2003-2007); parish vicar (2007-2013) and parish priest (2013-2016) of St. Mariä Empfängnis in Essen-Holsterhausen. He was awarded a doctorate in pastoral theology from the Faculty of Catholic Theology of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in München (2014). Since 2016 he has served as parish priest of St. Laurentius in Essen.