Auxiliary Bishop Eberlein is retiring after 8 years – A look back!

Auxiliary Bishop Eberlein is retiring after 8 years – A look back!

On October 25, 2025, Horst Eberlein, the long-time auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Hamburg, celebrated his 75th birthday. On this day he officially retired after eight intense years in office. Eberlein, who was born in Walsleben, Altmark in 1950, has had his life story strongly influenced by his childhood experiences in divided Germany. While his parents fled to the West, he grew up with relatives and eventually graduated from high school in Schöneiche, east of Berlin.

In 1977, after completing his theology studies in Erfurt, he was ordained a priest in Waren an der Müritz. From 1977 to 1982, Eberlein worked as a chaplain in Wittenburg and Neubrandenburg, which he found to be a particularly intense time in his life. His path ultimately led him to be appointed as an auxiliary bishop by Pope Francis in 2017, and his episcopal ordination took place on March 25, 2017 in St. Mary's Cathedral in Hamburg. Many people in the Archdiocese of Hamburg appreciated the way he handled and led the office.

Memories and challenges

Eberlein look back on formative experiences. In the GDR he experienced the church as a place of cohesion, where he worked closely with a Protestant colleague, especially during the fall of communism. The loss of distrust after reunification left a lasting impression on him. He found the freedom of speech to be “incredibly gratifying”. During this time he was also concerned with the future of the church in the diaspora, particularly with regard to the migration from Mecklenburg.

However, his term in office was not only marked by positive memories. The corona pandemic and the processing of sexual abuse cases presented greater challenges for the church. Despite these difficult times, Eberlein is optimistic about the future and plans to remain in office until a successor is appointed. This gives him the opportunity to continue to be there for the community and address the current challenges.

Outlook for the future

With his resignation, Eberlein has already submitted a petition to Pope Leo XIV. In the coming years, he hopes to have time for his family, reading, going to the movies and doing outdoor activities, especially fishing. Eberlein is optimistic and plans to continue to have positive memories of his time shaped by the church.

The largest diocese in Germany in terms of area, the Archdiocese of Hamburg, extends over 32,520 square kilometers and includes Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. During his time as auxiliary bishop, Eberlein had a significant influence on many believers in this country and is a formative personality in northern German church history. The archdiocese will always be grateful to him for his dedicated work, his humanity and his bridge-building skills.

Again NDR reports, Eberlein hopes to continue to be present in the communities as a private person in the future to show his connection to the people. It remains to be seen what the successor will be and what new paths the Archdiocese of Hamburg will take.

Horst Eberlein's time as auxiliary bishop will never be forgotten. His vision for the church and his tireless commitment will continue to have an impact for a long time. Perhaps his handover will be an opportunity for a breath of fresh air that will connect people and strengthen the community in faith.