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Most Famous German Religious Figures

Religion 1,380
Germany 19,303
191 PB Pope Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI German Priest b. 1927
717 AS Albert Schweitzer Albert Schweitzer German Theologian 1875–1965
4,452 MN Martin Niemöller German Theologian 1892–1984
4,856 PT Paul Tillich Paul Tillich German Theologian 1886–1965
8,302 PL Pope Leo IX Pope Leo IX German Priest 1002–1054
9,210 RB Rudolf Bultmann Rudolf Bultmann German Theologian 1884–1976
9,373 AC Anne Catherine Emmerich Anne Catherine Emmerich German Nun 1774–1824
9,895 CA Clemens August Graf von Galen Clemens August Graf von Galen German Priest 1878–1946
12,339 MB Martin Bucer Martin Bucer German Theologian 1491–1551
13,142 RO Rudolf Otto Rudolf Otto German Theologian 1869–1937
14,795 U Ulfilas Ulfilas German Missionary 311–383
15,229 SK Sebastian Kneipp Sebastian Kneipp German Priest 1821–1897
15,534 AV Adolf von Harnack German Theologian 1851–1930
16,922 JM Joachim Meisner Joachim Meisner German Priest 1933–2017
17,091 JE Johann Eck Johann Eck German Theologian 1486–1543
19,827 CV Constantin von Tischendorf Constantin von Tischendorf German Theologian 1815–1874
21,628 ED Eugen Drewermann Eugen Drewermann German Theologian b. 1940
21,644 JB Johannes Bugenhagen Johannes Bugenhagen German Theologian 1485–1558
22,570 NO Norbert of Xanten Norbert of Xanten German Priest 1080–1134
22,644 ET Ernst Troeltsch Ernst Troeltsch German Theologian 1865–1923
23,037 AK Andreas Karlstadt German Theologian 1486–1541
23,377 MV Michael von Faulhaber Michael von Faulhaber German Cardinal 1869–1952
24,297 PC Pope Clement II Pope Clement II German Priest 1005–1047
24,334 AK Adolph Kolping Adolph Kolping German Priest 1813–1865
24,720 JA Johann Adam Schall von Bell Johann Adam Schall von Bell German Jesuit 1592–1666
24,779 PS Philipp Spener Philipp Spener German Theologian 1635–1705
26,032 JT Johann Tetzel Johann Tetzel German Religious 1460–1519
26,871 JC Johann Conrad Dippel Johann Conrad Dippel German Theologian 1673–1734
29,422 AB Augustin Bea Augustin Bea German Jesuit 1881–1968
29,964 PD Pope Damasus II Pope Damasus II German Cleric 1000–1048
34,348 MF Matthias Flacius Matthias Flacius German Theologian 1520–1575
34,995 RM Reinhard Marx Reinhard Marx German Priest b. 1953
35,302 AJ Arnold Janssen Arnold Janssen German Missionary 1837–1909
35,378 JF Josef Frings German Priest 1887–1978
35,726 AA Abraham a Sancta Clara Abraham a Sancta Clara German Monk 1644–1709
35,932 GG Georg Gänswein Georg Gänswein German Prelate b. 1956
37,197 FC Ferdinand Christian Baur Ferdinand Christian Baur German Theologian 1792–1860
39,544 JA Johannes Althusius Johannes Althusius German Theologian 1563–1638
39,646 BH Balthasar Hubmaier Balthasar Hubmaier German Theologian 1485–1528
42,344 WO Wolfgang of Regensburg Wolfgang of Regensburg German Priest 924–994
43,348 FT Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst German Prelate b. 1959
43,460 KA Kurt Aland Kurt Aland German Theologian 1915–1994
43,746 GR Georg Ratzinger Georg Ratzinger German Presbyter 1924–2020
44,020 JM Johann Martin Schleyer Johann Martin Schleyer German Priest 1831–1912
44,167 OO Otto of Bamberg Otto of Bamberg German Priest 1060–1139
46,032 CT Christian the Younger of Brunswick Christian the Younger of Brunswick German Priest 1599–1626
46,344 BZ Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg German Clergy 1682–1719
46,955 KG Karl Gützlaff Karl Gützlaff German Missionary 1803–1851
48,382 GS George Spalatin George Spalatin German Theologian 1484–1545
50,465 JH Joseph Höffner Joseph Höffner German Cardinal 1906–1987
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Ranked by cross-verified academic notability — how it works

By the numbers

Inside Germany Religious Figures

1,380 notable people in this slice of the dataset.

Through the Centuries

One face per century — the most globally famous germany religious figures born in each.

Notable Births by Decade

Notable births among Germany Religious Figures peaked in the 1870s with 81 people.

What Germany Religious Figures Are Known For

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Theologian are Germany Religious Figures's biggest group — 42% of all notables (574).

Germany Religious Figures over-index on theologe — 91.0× the global rate.

  1. Theologian574
  2. Priest480
  3. Theologe46
  4. Pastor37
  5. Missionary35
  6. Religious31
  7. Bishop27
  8. Rabbi27
  1. Theologe4691.0×
  2. Theologian57462.5×
  3. Pastor3732.3×
  4. Rabbi2721.8×
  5. Nun2619.1×
  6. Missionary3513.3×
  7. Religious3113.0×
  8. Bishop2712.5×

City Hot Spots

Cities that over-produce Germany Religious Figures compared to the world average — multiplier shows how much more.