Felix Genn

Felix Genn (born 6 March 1950) is a German bishop of the Catholic Church who was the Bishop of Münster from 2008 to 2025. He was the Bishop of Essen from 2003 to 2008 and an Auxiliary Bishop of Trier from 1999 to 2003. Since 2013, he has been a member of the Congregation for Bishops.

Early life and education Genn was born on 6 March 1950 in the municipality of Burgbrohl, which is located in the Ahrweiler district of the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. He was raised on a farm in Wassenach and graduated from the Kurfürst-Salentin Gymnasium in Andernach in 1969. Between 1969 and 1974, he undertook the study of theology at the University of Trier and the University of Regensburg. Finally, on 29 June 1985, he received his PhD in theology from the University of Trier. He wrote his doctoral thesis on St. Augustine. Upon being made a priest, he was appointed a curate of the Holy Cross Church in Bad Kreuznach, a position he held for two years. In 1978, he was made the subregens (assistant head) of the diocesan seminary of Trier, where he remained until 1994. In 1985, he was made the seminary's spiritual director. succeeding Reinhard Lettmann. He was enthroned in the diocese on 29 March 2009. Pope Francis appointed Genn as a member of the congregation.

In September 2022, in the context of the German national synod, Genn called for the reform of Catholic education on sexuality "because it is problematic when sexuality is primarily seen as sinful and when sexuality cannot be discussed".

Pope Francis accepted his resignation on 9 March 2025.

Coat of arms

Upon being made a bishop, Genn took up an episcopal coat of arms. Upon being made Bishop of Münster, he adopted a new coat of arms. On his current coat of arms, the yellow and red striped fields on the top left and bottom right of the shield are taken from the Diocese of Münster's coat of arms. The eagle in the top right field is indicative of Genn's hometown of Wassenach, as an eagle is present in its coat of arms, and is a remnant of his previous coats of arms as Bishop of Essen and Auxiliary Bishop of Trier. Moreover, the eagle relates to his Latin episcopal motto, , which is taken from .

The seven heads of grain in the lower left field reference Genn's peasant background. However, their number also symbolizes the fullness of life and believers of God who gather from all directions with a hunger and thirst for life.