Notker Wolf

Former Head of the Order of the Benedictines

Notker Wolf

Former Head of the Order of the Benedictines

Dr Notker Wolf used to be the worldwide head of the order of the Benedictines. He gives an insight into how one leads a global organisation of more than 100,000 people both according to christian principles and with business efficiency. Wolf holds the Benedictine motto "ora et labora“ ("pray and work“) as his guiding principle. He argues for the responsibility of the individual and cautions against irresponsible management and reckless pursuit of profit. The former head of the Benedictines was born Werner Wolf, the son of a tailor. As a schoolboy he decided to become a missionary, and after leaving school he joined the Benedictine mission on St.Ottilien, Germany, where he took the ordained name "Notker“. He studied Philosophy at the order’s own college of San Anselmo in Rome, where he is now Chancellor. In 1965 he went to the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, where he studied Theology and Natural Sciences. He was ordained a priest in 1968. In 1970 he returned to San Anselmo as Professor of the Philosophy of Nature and the Scientific Theory. In 1977 at the age of 37 he became head of the Congregation of the Benedictine Mission. From 2000 to 2016 he was head of the worldwide order, with responsibility for about 100,000 monks and nuns.

About Notker Wolf

Dr Notker Wolf used to be the worldwide head of the order of the Benedictines. He gives an insight into how one leads a global organisation of more than 100,000 people both according to christian principles and with business efficiency. Wolf holds the Benedictine motto "ora et labora“ ("pray and work“) as his guiding principle. He argues for the responsibility of the individual and cautions against irresponsible management and reckless pursuit of profit.

The former head of the Benedictines was born Werner Wolf, the son of a tailor. As a schoolboy he decided to become a missionary, and after leaving school he joined the Benedictine mission on St.Ottilien, Germany, where he took the ordained name "Notker“. He studied Philosophy at the order’s own college of San Anselmo in Rome, where he is now Chancellor.

In 1965 he went to the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, where he studied Theology and Natural Sciences. He was ordained a priest in 1968. In 1970 he returned to San Anselmo as Professor of the Philosophy of Nature and the Scientific Theory.

In 1977 at the age of 37 he became head of the Congregation of the Benedictine Mission. From 2000 to 2016 he was head of the worldwide order, with responsibility for about 100,000 monks and nuns.

Topics

  • Leadership
  • Ethical behaviour
  • Management