Genn turned 75 last Thursday, thus reaching the age limit stipulated for bishops. He had already offered his resignation to the Pope last year.
Born in the Eifel region, Genn was Bishop of Münster for 16 years and previously headed the diocese of Essen for six years. From 1999 to 2003, he was auxiliary bishop in Trier for four years.
On Sunday afternoon, the diocese of Münster will celebrate Genn's 75th birthday with a service in Münster Cathedral and a reception in the Münsterland Hall.
Bishop Genn is a member of the Vatican's episcopal authority.
According to his own statement, he intends to continue working there until the end of his five-year term of office in 2029. Genn is also coordinating a working group of the World Synod, which is to make suggestions to the Pope for a better selection of bishop candidates. He would also like to complete this task, Genn said in an interview with the Catholic News Agency (KNA).
Successor expected in a few months
Until a new bishop is inaugurated, the diocese of Münster will be led by an interim administrator.
The so-called diocesan administrator is elected by the 16-member cathedral chapter, but is not allowed to make any fundamental changes.
A successor to Bishop Genn is not expected for several months.
After consulting with 16 lay representatives from the diocese, the cathedral chapter sends name suggestions to Rome; other bishops from the area of the so-called Prussian Concordat (Germany north of the Main line) also do this.
From these, the Vatican compiles a list of three, from which the Münster Cathedral Chapter selects the new bishop, who is then appointed by the Pope.