Heße was born in Cologne, Germany, on 7 August 1966.
Born to a family of bakers, he grew up in the city's Junkersdorf district.
He attended George Büchner Gymnasium in Cologne's Weiden district.
After graduation in 1986, he studied theology and philosophy at the University of Bonn and University of Regensburg.

Heße was ordained on 18 June 1993 by Cardinal Joachim Meisner in the Cologne Cathedral.
From 1993 to 1997 he was pastor at St. Remigius Church in the city of Bergheim.
From 1997 to 2003 he was a lecturer at the Collegium Albertinum, a seminary in Bonn, while pursuing his doctorate.
In 2001 he received his Doctor of Theology from the Philosophical-Theological School in Vallendar with a dissertation on Hans Urs van Balthasar, the Swiss Catholic theologian.
From 2003 to 2005 he headed the Department of Pastoral Services of the Archdiocese of Cologne.
Also in 2003, he took up the additional position as the archdiocesan delegate for radio and television, a post he would hold until 2012.

On 1 May 2006, Heße was appointed Deputy Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cologne.
On March 16, 2012, he became Vicar General.


On 28 February 2014, Cardinal Joachim Miesner, Archbishop of Cologne, resigned due to advanced age.
On the same day, Heße was elected diocesan administrator, essentially taking on the duties of archbishop until a new one was appointed.

 On 20 September 2014, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki was installed as Archbishop of Cologne.
At the ceremony, Heße was reaffirmed as Vicar General under Woelki's prelature.
Heße was born in Cologne, Germany, on 7 August 1966. Born to a family of bakers, he grew up in the city's Junkersdorf district. He attended George Büchner Gymnasium in Cologne's Weiden district. After graduation in 1986, he studied theology and philosophy at the University of Bonn and University of Regensburg.
Heße was ordained on 18 June 1993 by Cardinal Joachim Meisner in the Cologne Cathedral. From 1993 to 1997 he was pastor at St. Remigius Church in the city of Bergheim. From 1997 to 2003 he was a lecturer at the Collegium Albertinum, a seminary in Bonn, while pursuing his doctorate. In 2001 he received his Doctor of Theology from the Philosophical-Theological School in Vallendar with a dissertation on Hans Urs van Balthasar, the Swiss Catholic theologian. From 2003 to 2005 he headed the Department of Pastoral Services of the Archdiocese of Cologne. Also in 2003, he took up the additional position as the archdiocesan delegate for radio and television, a post he would hold until 2012.
On 1 May 2006, Heße was appointed Deputy Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cologne. On March 16, 2012, he became Vicar General.

On 28 February 2014, Cardinal Joachim Miesner, Archbishop of Cologne, resigned due to advanced age. On the same day, Heße was elected diocesan administrator, essentially taking on the duties of archbishop until a new one was appointed.
 On 20 September 2014, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki was installed as Archbishop of Cologne. At the ceremony, Heße was reaffirmed as Vicar General under Woelki's prelature.
Stefan Heße