Johann Baptist Metz

Johann Baptist Metz’s theology grew out of encounters with loss, silence, and the suffering of others.

From his youth in wartime Germany to his decades of teaching in Münster, he developed a way of thinking about God that insisted on remembering history and responding to the world.

A life shaped by memory

Born in Bavaria in 1928, Johann Baptist Metz was drawn into the final years of the Second World War as a teenage soldier. The death of his comrades, his captivity, and his subsequent struggle to confront the Holocaust left questions that would accompany him throughout his life. How could theology speak credibly about God while attending to the suffering of others?

Metz became a Catholic priest and studied philosophy and theology under Karl Rahner. During three decades of teaching at the University of Münster, he developed his “new political theology.” He insisted that Christian faith must engage with concrete lives and historical experience. Remembering suffering—including the suffering of strangers and enemies—called for compassion, solidarity, and action.

His influence extended beyond the university. Students carried his questions into social work, journalism, education, pastoral ministry, and nearly every area of public life. After retiring in 1993, he continued to write and speak, challenging readers to resist forgetfulness and indifference. When he died in Münster in 2019, he left a body of work that continues to ask how faith can become a responsibility for others.

Life in dates

From his Bavarian childhood to his later years in Münster, these milestones trace the experiences, relationships, and work that shaped Metz’s life and political theology.

1928
Born
Johannes Baptist Metz is born August 5 in Welluck, near Auerbach, Bavaria. He is proud of his Bavarian heritage and returns regularly throughout his life.
1944
Drafted into Germany Army
Toward the end of the second World War, Germany conscripts the sixteen-year old Metz.
His wartime experiences provided foundational memories for him. He was stunned by the death of his entire unit, captured as a POW, and confused by his family’s ignorance of the Holocaust.
1945
POW
Americans capture him and he is removed to a POW camp in Baltimore.
1948-1957
Studies in Bamberg and Innsbruck
Metz begins his theological studies by entering the seminary in Bamberg. Afterwards, he pursues his D. phil. in Innsbruck, Austria, under Karl Rahner, S.J.
1952
Earns Doctorate in Philosophy
1954
Ordained a Roman Catholic priest
Metz is ordained in the archdiocese of Bamburg.
1958-1961
Serves as pastor in Ebrach.
1961
Earns Doctorate in Theology
Metz earns another doctorate, this time in theology.
1963-1993
Professor at the University of Münster
Metz starts a thirty-year career at the Westfälischen Wilhelms Universität, Münster. At one point he is poised to be offered a teaching position at the University of Munich, but the move is blocked by the local archbishop, Joseph Ratzinger.
1965
Co-founds Concilium
Along with Karl Rahner, S.J., Hans Küng, Edward Schillebeeckx, O.P. and other theologians, Metz founds the theological journal Concilium in order to nurture the theological research and exchanges that surface at Vatican II. He serves ad co-editor during the first years.
1968-1973
Advisor to the Papal Secretariat for Non-Believers
Now called the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, this office fosters dialog between the Catholic church and other world religions. It was created as part of the Second Vatican Council.
1969-1979
Founding member of the Bielefeld Theological Institute
When Germany establishes its reform university in Bielefeld, Metz becomes a founding member of the theological institute there.
1971-1975
Advisor of the Würzburg Synod
As an advisor to the Joint Synod of the German Catholic Bishops, Metz works to shape the future of the German church. He is the principle author of the synod document “Our Hope.”
1993
Retirement
Metz retires from the University of Münster as Professor Emeritus. He continues to write and speak at conferences.
1993-1996
Visiting Professor the University of Vienna
Metz enjoys a position as Visiting Professor in the area of Philosophy of Religion and Worldviews (Religionsphilosophie und Weltanschauungslehre) at the University of Vienna.
1994
Honorary Doctorate from the University of Vienna
The University of Vienna awards Metz a doctorate honoris causa to acknowledge his transformative work in theology.
1998
The theological conference "Ende der Zeit? Die Provokation der Rede von Gott"
On 27 October a conference was held at Schloß Ahaus to celebrate the 70th birthday of Johann Baptists Metz. A distinguished panel respond to two papers, one by Prof. Dr. Metz and the other by his former colleague Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. There is some controversy about the invitation to Ratzinger as he is rather famously not a friend of political theology. Contributions are later published as the book The End of Time: The Provocation of Talking about God.
2002
Awarded the Buber-Rosenzweig Medal
This medal is awarded to individuals or groups working to improve Jewish-Christian understanding. Metz’s political theology insists that all theology today must be done in light of Jewish experience and operate as “a theology after Auschwitz.” The award is give by the German Coordinating Council of Societies for Christian-Jewish Cooperation.
2009
Honorary Doctorate from Berkeley
The Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley (now part of Santa Clara University) awards Metz an honorary doctorate in recognition of his work.
2013
Honorary Doctorate from University of London
Heythrop College of the University of London confers an honorary doctorate on Metz in 2013.
2019
Death
On Monday, 2 December 2019, Johann Baptist Metz dies in Münster at the age of 91. He is buried in his parish cemetery of St. Mauritz near his home.