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He was the oldest pastor in the world, the oldest Hesse and an icon in East Hesse: Pastor Bruno Kant has now died at the age of 110.
Löschenrod – As Holger Breithecker, mayor of Löschenrod, confirmed to our newspaper, Bruno Kant fell asleep peacefully on Friday evening (May 29th). The diocese of Fulda also confirmed the priest's death in a press release. He still had it in February Pastor, who has lived in Löschenrod for many years, celebrated his 110th birthday. Numerous Residents of the Eichenzell district congratulated him.
Fell asleep peacefully: Pastor Bruno Kant died at the age of 110
“With Bruno Kant, the diocese of Fulda is losing a priest whose life path touched more than a century of church and social history. His pastoral service, his loyalty to the priestly mission and his connection to the local people remain gratefully remembered,” writes the diocese of Fulda on the death of the 110-year-old.
Fulda's Bishop Dr. Michael Gerber honors Kant as a priest whose testimony of faith and service has shaped many people across generations: “Just a few months ago I was able to convey the blessings of Pope Leo XIV to Pastor Bruno Kant on his 110th birthday. The encounter with him deeply impressed me.
Also the local priest of Eichenzell, Dr. Guido Pasenow speaks with respect about Bruno Kant: “With the death of Pastor Bruno Kant, our parish loses a person who was its heart for many years. Even after he retired from active ministry, he remained a valued conversation partner, pastor and spiritual companion for many believers. We are grateful for everything he gave to our community.”
Pastor Bruno Kant spent his life serving the church
Eichenzell's mayor Johannes Rothmund paid tribute to the deceased with the following words: “On his 110th birthday, we were able to experience Pastor Kant as an interested and still spiritually active person. Now the Lord has brought him to himself. He was an inspiration to all of us and will remain so. I am grateful for every encounter that was made possible with him. With a smile I remember his lively eyes and his pronounced sense of humor. For Löschenrod he was an institution, and I am sure that he will be remembered by everyone and that his trust in God will be passed on.”
Fulda member of the Bundestag Michael Brand also remembers his last encounter with Bruno Kant: “What really impressed me during the visit on his 110th birthday was the interest and humility with which Pastor Kant approached life, death and life after death. I will keep that in my special memory. We can all certainly take an example from that.” He is simply grateful “for this positive and people-oriented life.”
According to the Vatican, Bruno Kant was the oldest living priest in the world, the oldest Hesse and one of the oldest Germans. Kant was born in Werblin, West Prussia (now Poland) in 1916. He graduated from the municipal high school in Danzig in 1934 and began his philosophical and theological studies at the Braunsberg State Academy and at the University of Freiburg im Breisgau.
In 1943 Kant was called up for military service. Only after returning from Russian captivity in 1948 was he able to resume his theology studies in Fulda. On March 19, 1950 he was ordained a priest in Fulda Cathedral. In 1960 he became pastor of the parish of St. Ägidius in Petersberg-Marbach, where he worked for more than three decades. With great commitment, Kant understood how to win people over to joint tasks and pool responsibilities locally, according to the statement from the diocese of Fulda. In addition, he worked as a pastor and discussion partner for the concerns of the political communities.
After retiring, Bruno Kant moved to Eichenzell-Löschenrod in 1991, where he lived until his death. There, as a retired priest, he remained closely connected to community life and continued to provide pastoral services until he was 102 years old.
“Bruno Kant was held in high esteem in the communities in which he worked. In Petersberg-Marbach, a street bears his name; in Eichenzell-Löschenrod, the square by the church was named “Pfr.-Bruno-Kant-Platz” in his honor,” writes the diocese.
