Since 1809 it has been the parish church of the Catholic parish of the Holy Spirit.
In 1685, the Electoral Palatinate fell to Elector Philipp Wilhelm (1685-90) of the Catholic line Palatinate-Neuburg. He led the Catholic Church back to the Palatinate and summoned the Jesuits to Heidelberg. After the destruction of Heidelberg by the French in 1693, Elector Johann Wilhelm (1690-1716) wanted to turn Heidelberg into a center of Catholic activity with the help of the Jesuits. From 1703 to 1711 the large college building was built and immediately afterwards the construction of the church began. The Elector provided building land, stones from the Thick Tower of Heidelberg Castle, timber from the stately forests, sand from the moat and free carriages. The plan was designed by the architect Johann Adam Breunig (around 1660-1727). The first phase of construction lasted until 1723.
In 1716 the Elector Johann Wilhelm died. His brother and successor Karl Philipp argued with the Reformed Church Council over the 80th question of the Heidelberg Catechism and over the nave of the Church of the Holy Spirit, as a result of which the Elector moved his residence and government to Mannheim in 1720. It was not until 1749 that construction work could be resumed thanks to the generosity of Elector Karl Theodor (1742-1799). Already in the following year the nave was covered, in 1751 the façade and the vault were completed. However, the work dragged on until late autumn 1759. The Mannheim court architect Franz Wilhelm Rabaliatti (1716-1782), who at the same time built the Seminarium Carolinum for the Heidelberg Jesuits, was in charge of the construction. After the abolition of the Jesuit order in 1773, its tasks and institutions were taken over by the Lazarists from 1782 to 1793. In the following years, the church served as a military hospital. Since 01.11.1809 it has been the parish church of the Catholic parish of the Holy Spirit.
The Baroque furnishings are no longer preserved today. The altarpiece by Kaulbach's pupil Andreas Müller has been preserved. In a crypt in the northeast corner of the church, the Elector Frederick the Victorious is buried. To the east of the church portals is the entrance to the former Jesuit college. Originally, the Jesuit facilities included a grammar school (now the Philosophical Seminary) and the Seminarium Carolinum, which is now used by the university administration.
Congregation of the Holy Spirit
Schulgasse 4
69117 Heidelberg
Germany