"It's moving forward": Wilmer is head of the bishops - New German Bishops' President Faces Crisis as Catholics Leave in Record Numbers
Heiner Wilmer, the newly elected president of the German Bishops' Conference (DBK), has addressed the Catholic Church's ongoing struggles in his first public remarks. The 64-year-old Bishop of Hildesheim takes over from Georg Bätzing at a time when membership numbers are falling sharply across Germany.
Wilmer began by quoting the Gospel of Luke, calling for peace as he marked the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He urged an end to the war while stressing the Christian message of hope.
The Church in Germany has seen a steady decline in members since the start of the *Synodaler Weg* in 2019. Last year alone, around 202,000 Catholics left, reducing total membership from 22.6 million in 2019 to roughly 20.8 million by early 2026. Factors behind the drop include the sexual abuse scandal, progressive reforms alienating conservatives, secularisation, and competition from other groups like the AfD. When questioned about expanding women's leadership, Wilmer referred to Pope Francis's Synod on Synodality but provided few specifics. He described synodality as the Church's 'fundamental form' but avoided outlining concrete next steps. Instead, he expressed confidence in the ongoing process. Irme Stetter-Karp, president of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK), called on Wilmer to show 'courage for the changes ahead' and push for tangible reform. Wilmer acknowledged the challenges but highlighted the resilience of the faithful, striking an optimistic tone.
The Church now faces the task of addressing declining membership while navigating internal divisions. Wilmer's leadership will be tested as he seeks to balance reform demands with maintaining unity. His first remarks suggest a focus on dialogue and gradual change rather than immediate action.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
