Order of Saint Benedict. The Abbots Primate of the Benedictine Confederation.

The Order of Saint Benedict

The Abbots Primate
of the Benedictine Confederation

Pope Leo XIII, Inæstimabilis unitatis, 16 September 1894, a decree relating to the office of abbot primate.

Gregory J. Polan OSB

X Abbot Primate

Born 2 January 1950, prof. 28 August 1971, ord. 26 May 1977, elected ninth abbot of Conception, 6 November 1996, blessed 9 December 1996, elected Abbas primas and Abbot of Sant'Anselmo, 10 September 2016.

Previous Abbots Primate

1. HILDEBRAND de HEMPTINNE, born 10 June 1849, prof. Beuron 15 August 1870, ord. 11 June 1872, elected Abbot of Maredsous 9 August 1890, blessed at Montecassino 5 Oct. 1890, nominated for life Abbot of S. Anselmo and Abbot Primate 12 July 1893 by Leo XIII, died at Beuron 3 August 1913, buried in the church of the Archabbey of Beuron.

2. FIDELIS von STOTZIGEN, born 1 May 1871, prof. Beuron 25 January 1892, ord. 27 September 1897, elected Abbot of Maria Laach 31 Oct. 1901, blessed 11 November 1901, elected Coadjutor Abbot Primate 13 May 1913, succeeded 13 August 1913, died at Rome 9 January 1947, buried at S. Anselm in Agro Verano. Bernhard Kaelin

3. BERNHARD KAELIN, born 21 March 1887, prof. Muri-Gries 5 Oct. 1909, ord. 18 Oct. 1912, elected Abbot of Muri-Gries 10 August 1945, blessed 13 August 1945, elected III Abbot Primate 16 September 1947, died at Muri 20 Oct. 1962, buried in Sarnen. (Photo left: carte de visite, August 1948).

4. BENNO GUT, born 1 April 1897, prof. Einsiedeln 6 January 1918, ord. 10 July 1921, elected Abbot Ordinary of Einsiedeln 15 April 1947, blessed 5 May 1947, elected IV Abbot Primate 24 September 1959, created Cardinal S.R.E. 26 June 1967, died at Rome 8 December 1970, buried in Einsiedeln.

5. REMBERT WEAKLAND, archbishop emeritus, born 2 April 1927, prof. Latrobe - Saint Vincent 23 September 1946, ord. 24 June 1951, elected Abbot Coadjutor of Latrobe 26 June 1963, blessed 29 August 1963, elected V Abbot Primate 29 September 1967, nominated Archbishop of Milwaukee 17 September 1977, consecrated 8 November 1977, retired 24 May 2002.

6. VICTOR DAMMERTZ, bishop emeritus, born 8 June 1929, prof. St. Ottilien 16 Sept. 1954, ord. 21 September 1957, elected Archabbot of St. Ottilien 8 January 1975, blessed 2 feb. 1975, elected VI Abbot Primate 22 Sept. 1977, nominated Bishop of Augsburg 24 December 1992, consecrated 30 January 1993; resignation accepted 9 June 2004.

7. JEROME THEISEN, born 30 December 1930, prof. Collegeville - Saint John's 11 July 1952, ord. 28 July 1957, elected Abbot of Collegeville - Saint John's 22 August 1979, blessed 19 Oct. 1979, elected Abbot Primate and Abbot of Sant'Anselmo 19 September 1992, died at Rome 11 September 1995, buried in Collegeville.

Circular Letters: November 1994 * June 1995

8. MARCEL ROONEY, born 20 September 1937, prof. 12 September 1958, ord. 21 September 1963, elected Abbot of Conception Abbey 14 April 1993, blessed 10 May 1993, elected Abbot Primate and Abbot of Sant'Anselmo 18 September 1996, resigned 3 September 2000.

Circular Letters: December 1998 * September 2000

9. NOTKER WOLF, born 21 June 1940, prof. 17 September 1962, ord. 1 September 1968, elected archabbot of Sankt Ottilien, 1 October 1977, blessed 22 October 1977, elected Abbas primas and Abbot of Sant'Anselmo, 7 September 2000, emeritus, 9 September 2016.

Circular Letters: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009

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