Rubuta ci gaba ga wannan sakin layi - An dauki shi a matsayin mai ra'ayin mazan jiya, Bengsch bai shiga cikin harkokin siyasa ba. Paparoma Paul VI ne ya nada shi Cardinal-firist na S. Filippo Neri a Eurosia a cikin taron na Yuni 26, 1967. Kamar yadda Bengsch shine Jamusanci na Gabas na farko da ya karɓi jan hat, an ga wannan a matsayin aiki don inganta dangantakar Ikilisiya da Gabashin Jamus. Shi ne kuma ƙaramin firist da aka ɗaukaka a bikin. Bishop na Berlin yana ɗaya daga cikin waɗanda suka zaɓa su zama cardinals a taron coci na Agusta
da kuma Oktoba 1978.