 On 18 March 1968 Pope Paul VI named Degenhardt as auxiliary bishop in Paderborn and titular bishop of "Vicus Pacati".The motto of Degenhardt was "Surrexit Dominus vere" ("The Lord has truly risen", from the Easter liturgy).Cardinal Lorenz Jaeger, Archbishop of Paderborn, had Degenhardt consecrated as bishop on 1 May 1968.