Roman Catholic Cardinal. A native of Pechbrunn, Alois Grillmeier received his education in Regensburg prior to entering the Society of Jesus in 1929, following which he pursued his studies in Pullach, Valkenburg, Frankfürt, Innsbruck, Rome, Freiburg im Breisgau and Münich. Ordained priest in the latter city in June 1937, he served in the German Army between 1942 and 1944 following the expulsion of the Jesuits by the Nazis after being labeled "unworthy" of defending their motherland. Successively, he began his long teaching career in fundamental and dogmatic theology, most of which was spent as professor of Dogmatics at the Sankt Georgen college in Frankfurt am Main, where the German Jesuits received their theological education. Grillmeier's name became known at the Second Vatican Council while acting as theological adviser to Msgr. Wilhelm Kempf, bishop of Limburg. Member of the conciliar theological commission alongside Karol Wojtyla, then archbishop of Kraków, future Pope John Paul II, Grillmeier became across the years active in ecumenism, serving as adviser to the Pro Oriente Institute in Vienna and taking part in several unofficial theological dialogues with the Oriental Orthodox Churches. Receiving honorary degrees from the universities of Mainz, Innsbruck and Bamberg, across the years he authored twelve major publications and several academic articles, with "Christ in Christian Tradition" remaining his magnum opus. Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of November 26, 1994 with the deaconry of San Nicola in Carcere by Pope John Paul II, he asked to be dispensed from the required episcopal consecration due to his advanced age, which dispensation was granted by the named Pope. The Cardinal passed away in a home for elderly Jesuits, where he spent his last years, and was laid to rest in the small Jesuit cemetery located on the grounds of the Berchmans College in Pullach im Isartal.