Leo Binz

Leo Binz (born January 31, 1900, in Illingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; died November 13, 1981, in Dubuque, Iowa, USA) was a Roman Catholic archbishop. He served as Archbishop of Dubuque from 1954 to 1961 and as Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis from 1962 to 1975.

Binz received his theological training at the Pontifical North American College in Rome and was ordained a priest in 1924. He served in various capacities in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, including as a professor at St. Francis Seminary and as private secretary to Archbishop Samuel Stritch.

During World War II, Binz served as an assistant director of War Relief Services for the National Catholic Welfare Conference. He worked extensively in Europe, assisting refugees and displaced persons.

Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Dubuque in 1942 and Coadjutor Archbishop in 1949, he succeeded Archbishop Henry Rohlman as Archbishop of Dubuque in 1954. In Dubuque, he focused on Catholic education, expanding the diocesan school system.

In 1962, he was appointed Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis, a position he held until his retirement in 1975. Binz actively participated in the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), contributing to discussions on liturgical reform and the Church in the modern world. He was considered a progressive voice during the Council.

Archbishop Binz implemented many of the reforms called for by Vatican II in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, including liturgical changes and greater lay involvement in church affairs. He was known for his administrative skills and his dedication to social justice issues.