Pope Leo XIV thanked a 110-year-old priest from the Diocese of Fulda, Germany, for his “long, faithful, and devoted priestly service.” Father Bruno Kant is officially recognized as the oldest priest in the world.
“I was delighted to learn that you will be celebrating your 110th birthday on Feb. 26 and send you my warmest congratulations and blessings,” Pope Leo wrote to Kant, according to the newspaper Fuldaer Zeitung.
The birthday celebrations were attended not only by residents of the neighboring towns of Eichenzell and Löschenrod but also by government and Church representatives. The bishop of Fulda, Michael Gerber, said: “I received confirmation from the Vatican that he is the oldest priest in the world. Pope Leo even sent him a birthday card.”
As reported by katholisch.de in November 2025, Kant, born near Danzig in present-day Poland, wanted to be a priest from the age of 9. He began his theological studies, but the Nazi regime thwarted his plans by conscripting him for forced labor and making him a soldier.
Kant then spent four years as a prisoner of war in Russia before being reunited with his family, who had fled to the West.
Kant was finally ordained a priest in 1950. After decades of priestly service, he no longer does certain things due to his advanced age. He stopped driving “at 102 years old,” according to the news outlet, and “for the last few years, he has refrained from regularly celebrating holy Mass with the congregation on Wednesday evenings. However, he continued visiting the sick as long as he was able. Now that is no longer possible.”
At that time, Kant acknowledged that he was “not far from death,” but in the meantime, he spends his days doing Sudoku puzzles, watching television, reading the newspaper, and, of course, praying.
“Prayer keeps me young,” he said.
This story was first published by CNA Deutsch, the German-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by ACI Prensa/EWTN News English.