He’s Bishop of Basel since 1995. In July 2010 he was appointed president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. He studied theology at the University of Lucerne and the Ludwig Maximilians University of Monaco of Bavaria. From 1985 until he became bishop he taught dogmatic theology and liturgy at the Theological Faculty of the University of Lucerne.

From 2007 to 2009 he’s been president of the Swiss Episcopal Conference.

He was created cardinal in November  2010.