Joachim Wanke, a German Roman Catholic prelate, died on March 12, 2026.
He was 84. Wanke served as the first bishop of the Diocese of Erfurt after its re-establishment following German reunification, leading the diocese from 1994 until his retirement in 2012.
Born in Breslau on May 4, 1941, he later studied theology at the seminary in Erfurt, was ordained a priest in 1966, and served as a chaplain in Dingelstädt before returning to Erfurt for doctoral and habilitation studies. He later became a professor of New Testament exegesis at the Philosophisch-Theologisches Studium in Erfurt.
Joachim Wanke (4 May 1941 – 12 March 2026) was a German Roman Catholic prelate, who served as the first bishop of the Diocese of Erfurt following its re-establishment after German reunification. He led the diocese from its formation in 1994 until his retirement in 2012. He was noted for his pastoral work in East Germany and his theological contributions within the German Bishops’ Conference.