Catholic Church in Germany

The Latest

Cardinal Rainer Woelki arrives at the Vatican on March 5, 2013.

German lay leader condemns cardinal for opposing 'synodal way'

Feb 3, 2020

A leading lay Catholic in the German city of Cologne has openly condemned his own archbishop for voicing concerns over... Read more

Pope Francis received Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich and Freising, in a private audience at the Vatican on May 27, 2019.

Analysis: Pope Francis and the Germans

Jan 31, 2020

By Ed Condon

Whether he turns his attention to the furthest corner of the Amazon, or to reforming his own curia in Rome,... Read more

Cologne Cathedral.

German bishop accused of taking $140,000 from elderly woman's account

Dec 9, 2019

Bishop Johannes Bündgens has been charged by prosecutors with taking more than $140,000 from an elderly woman’s account.  Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx.

German bishops will light ‘Synodal Candle’ to launch controversial process  

Nov 25, 2019

The German bishops' conference announced Monday that a ceremonial "Synodal Candle" will be lit on the first Sunday of Advent... Read more

Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta Ochoa.

‘Useless to pretend’: Vatican official dismisses German ‘binding synodal path’

Oct 11, 2019

A senior legal official in the Vatican has dismissed the idea that a planned “synodal process” in Germany will be... Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx at the German Bishops' Press Conference at the Pontifical Teutonic College on October 5, 2015.

German synod plans to be vetted by controversial lay group, not Vatican

Sep 27, 2019

By Ed Condon

The plan for a “binding synodal process” recently approved by the German bishops will be sent to a controversial lay... Read more

Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer of Regensburg.

German bishops vote to adopt statutes for Synodal Assembly

Sep 25, 2019

By Ed Condon

The bishops of Germany have voted to adopt a set of statutes for their long-planned “Synodal Assembly.” The decision was... Read more

Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, Apostolic Nuncio to Germany.

Germany’s nuncio encourages attention and fidelity to Pope Francis

Sep 24, 2019

Archbishop Nicola Eterovic reiterated the appeal of Pope Francis to the bishops that they focus on evangelization and maintain unity... Read more

Cardinal Rainer Woelki arrives at the Vatican on March 5, 2013.

'Take the pope very seriously!' Cardinal Woelki tells German bishops

Sep 24, 2019

The Church in Germany must revise its synodal plans in line with the pope’s leadership and the universal Church, Cardinal... Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx, chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, during a press conference in Rome, 24 Feb, 2019.

After Cardinal Marx visits Vatican, Germany's 'synodal way' up for bishops' vote

Sep 23, 2019

By Ed Condon

The German bishops are set this week to vote upon statutes for a “binding synodal process,” days after Cardinal Reinhard... Read more

Marianne Schlosser at a 2013 symposium.

Theologian withdraws from German synodal path

Sep 21, 2019

A member of the International Theological Commission has announced that she is no longer available to participate in the “binding... Read more

Pope Francis opens the Synod of Bishops on youth Oct. 3, 2018.

Analysis: The Amazon and Germany - A tale of two synods

Sep 16, 2019

By JD Flynn

For the next two months, most of the ink spilled by Catholic journalists will be dedicated to the Amazon, and... Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx.

German bishops respond to Vatican intervention, but documents indicate ongoing disagreement

Sep 13, 2019

By Ed Condon

The German bishops’ conference has responded to the Vatican’s intervention in preparations for a binding synodal process to be held... Read more

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

Vatican: German synod plans ‘not ecclesiologically valid’

Sep 12, 2019

By Ed Condon

In a letter sent to German bishops last week, the Vatican has said that plans for a binding Church synod... Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising and Cardinal Rainer Woelki of Cologne.

German bishops rejected plan for Francis-style ‘Priority of Evangelization’ in synodal path

Sep 10, 2019

By Ed Condon

The German bishops have rejected an alternative proposal for a synodal process centered on the “priority of evangelization” called for... Read more

People in the pews at Cologne Cathedral, Germany.

Analysis: Who are the Central Committee of German Catholics?

Sep 6, 2019

By Ed Condon

Following the news that the Church in Germany will proceed to form a new Synodal Assembly as part of a... Read more

 Cardinal Reinhard Marx and ZdK Chairman Thomas Sternberg on July 5, 2019 Photo: Martin Rothweiler / EWTN.TV

German bishops to green light binding 'Synodal Assembly'

Sep 5, 2019

By Ed Condon

The decision to proceed comes despite a warning from Pope Francis to the  German bishops that they must remain in step with... Read more

Pope Francis meets with the German bishop during their ad limina visit at the Vatican, Nov. 20, 2015.

'The situation is dramatic': on the papal letter to Catholics in Germany

Jul 2, 2019

Monsignor Michael Fuchs, vicar general of the Diocese of Regensburg, has published a reflection on the letter Pope Francis has... Read more

Pope Francis meets with German bishops during their ad limina visit Nov. 20, 2015.

Pope Francis tells German Catholics to focus on evangelization

Jun 29, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis sent a 28-page letter to Catholics in Germany Saturday calling for a focus on evangelization in the face... Read more