Willibrord Benzler (October 16 1853 - April 16 1921) was the Roman-Catholic bishop of Metz 1901-1919.

Born as Karl Benzler in Niederhemer, Westphalia as the eldest son of the innkeeper Karl Benzler and his wife Klementine (nee Kissing) he first attended the secondary school in Attendorn , and 1867-1871 in Münster, where he received his graduation. At first starting to study architecture in Cologne, in December 1871 he changed to study philosophy and catholic theology at the university of Innsbruck. Autumn 1872 he joined the Collegium Canisianum held by Jesuits, however his application to join the order was denied in 1874. Instead he joined the Benedictine abbey Beuron and chose the name Willibrord. On August 28 1877 he was ordinated to the priesthood.

After short stay at the abbey Emmaus in Prague and the abbey Seckau in Styria, he became first abbot of the newly founded abbey Maria Laach on October 15 1893. Even though Benzler was in discussion to be appointed bishop of Cologne or Fulda before, his appointment to become bishop of Metz on September 21 1901 was somewhat surprising. He was ordained on October 28 1901.

After World War I the diocese of Metz became French again, and a German bishop wasn't acceptable anymore, so he resigned in January 1919. His resignation was officially accepted on July 10; on July 31 he was then appointed as the archbishop of the titular church of Attalia. He returned to his abbey in Maria Laach and later to Beuron, however a serious heart disease forced him to move to the Cistercian abbey Baden-Baden-Lichtenthal to receive medical help. In 1921 he died in Baden-Baden-Lichtenthal, and was buried at his first abbey in Beuron.

External links

• Biographisch-Bibliographischen Kirchenlexikon (German)