Trierer Dom
Johann von der Leyen was born in Saffig in 1510, the son of Bartholomäus von der Leyen, chancellor of the Archbishopric of Cologne, and his wife Katharina von Pallandt. He became "Domizellar" of the Cathedral of Trier in 1528, during which time he studied at the University of Leuven. In 1532, he became a canon of the Cathedral of Trier. Additional canonicates at Würzburg Cathedral and at Münster Cathedral allowed him to continue his studies at the University of Paris, the University of Freiburg, the University of Orléans, and the University of Padua. He became chaplain of the Cathedral of Trier in 1535 and then Archdeacon in 1548. (Archdeacon is the highest clerical rank attained by Johann von der Leyen and he was never ordained as a priest or bishop.)