Lorenz Werthmann

Lorenz Werthmann was a Catholic priest and social worker and social welfare provider. He was the founder and first president of the German Caritas Association.

Werthmann was born in Geisenheim and attended high school in Hadamar. He studied at the German College in Rome. In 1883, Lorenz Werthmann had received the priestly ordination in Rome. After a short period in Frankfurt, Lorenz Werthmann became the secretary of Bishop Peter Josef Blum in Limburg an der Lahn. He took the same position even with his successor Christian Roos. As this, the 1886 Archbishop of Freiburg was chosen, he followed him and built Caritas from there on since 1895. He was a priest, the title "Pontifical confidential finance officer" and "Erzbischhöflicher Ecclesiastic Council" award. On November 9, 1897 Werthmann founded in Cologne the Charitasverband for Catholic Germany (DCV), which since 1921 as German Caritas association called (DCV) becomes.