Walter Kasper was born on March 5, 1933 in Heindenheim / Brenz, a town in central Germany. He was ordained priest on April 6, 1957. He holds a Ph.D. in theology, a discipline in which is considered one of the most renowned theologians._x000D_
On April 17, 1989 was appointed Bishop of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, receiving episcopal ordination on 17 July. On May 31, 1999 he was appointed secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, who went on to preside Dicastery two years later. Pope John Paul II named him a cardinal on February 21, 2001, assigning the diaconate Ognissanti in Via Appia Nuova.