Auxiliary Bishop Eberlein: Retiring after 75 years and new plans!

Auxiliary Bishop Eberlein: Retiring after 75 years and new plans!

Horst Eberlein, the Catholic auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Hamburg, celebrated his 75th birthday on October 25, 2025 and at the same time announced his decision to withdraw from his office. After eight years as auxiliary bishop, a chapter marked by intense experiences and challenges is coming to an end. NDR reports that Eberlein was born in Walsleben in the Altmark and spent his youth in Dobbertin. While his parents fled to the West, he initially stayed behind with relatives and completed his high school diploma in Schöneiche, east of Berlin. In 1977 he was ordained a priest in Waren an der Müritz.

Eberlein's career took an interesting turn when he was appointed auxiliary bishop in January 2017, after initial considerations that he initially rejected. The episcopal ordination took place on March 25, 2017 in St. Mary's Cathedral in Hamburg. During his time as auxiliary bishop, Eberlein has experienced significant changes in the church, including the corona pandemic and the important confrontation with sexual abuse cases. However, he plans to remain in office until a successor is appointed.

Eberlein's journey through the church

Eberlein not only experienced the development of the Catholic Church in Germany, but also had profound personal experiences as a Christian in the GDR. Domradio cites his memories of the time as particularly formative. He described the church as a place of cohesion during the fall of communism and reported on the valuable collaboration with a Protestant colleague in Friedland near Neubrandenburg. Reunification brought with it an enormous relief for him, as the freedom of speech was “incredibly gratifying” for him.

But despite these positive developments, Eberlein also expresses concerns about the future of the church, especially in the diaspora. The decline in parishioners in Mecklenburg unsettles him and he is convinced that the church needs to be more flexible and outgoing. The largest diocese in Germany in terms of area, which includes Hamburg and surrounding federal states, is primarily struggling with challenges in rural areas.

Future plans and hobbies

What's next for Horst Eberlein? He has clear ideas. In his free time, he would like to enjoy more time for family, culture and nature in the future. He particularly enjoys fishing and is looking forward to experiencing the peace and seclusion of nature. He sees the future with calmness and the desire to discover new interests.

His resignation marks the end of a committed period of life that brought with it numerous memories and changes for both Eberlein and the community. After all, the 75-year-old auxiliary bishop is not only a clergyman, but also a person who has found the joys of life in harmony with the challenges of his calling.