Paul Josef Cordes (born September 5, 1934 in Kirchhundem, Germany) was ordained a priest of Paderborn, Germany on December 21, 1961. He was later ordained Titular Bishop of Naissus (1975).
Five years later, he was appointed Vice President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity as well as President of the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum,” which he retired from in 2010.
In 2007, he was elevated to Cardinal and installed as Cardinal-Deacon of S. Lorenzo in Piscibus on May 11, 2008.
