Germany

The Latest

Cologne Cathedral in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Results of apostolic visitation of Germany’s Cologne archdiocese sent to Vatican

Aug 9, 2021

By CNA Staff

The pope is now expected to consider the report. Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx.

Cardinal Marx won’t rule out offering resignation for a 2nd time

Jul 27, 2021

By CNA Staff

Pope Francis declined the archbishop of Munich and Freising’s resignation in June. Read more

Pope Benedict XVI on Aug. 28, 2010.

Benedict XVI laments lack of faith within Church institutions in Germany

Jul 26, 2021

By CNA Staff

The pope emeritus spoke about faith, worldliness, and the institutional Church. Read more

A Traditional Latin Mass.

Traditionis custodes: German Catholic dioceses make no immediate changes

Jul 22, 2021

By CNA Staff

Several dioceses confirmed that Traditional Latin Masses would continue. Read more

Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, president of the Polish Catholic bishops’ conference.

Polish Catholic Church to hold day of solidarity with Europe’s flood victims as death toll rises

Jul 16, 2021

By CNA Staff

At least 120 people have died in the floods, many of them in Germany. Read more

The Catholic Cathedral of Limburg in Hesse, Germany.

More than 220,000 people left the Catholic Church in Germany in 2020

Jul 14, 2021

By CNA Staff

The figure was lower than the record number set in 2019. Read more

Fr. Andreas Wollbold, a professor at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich in Germany.

Theologian: Germany’s practicing Catholics need more encouragement

Jul 12, 2021

By CNA Staff

“They are the avant-garde, and not the last of the Mohicans,” said Fr. Andreas Wollbold. Read more

Deutsche Bischofskonferenz/Matthias Kopp.

Vatican cardinal urges unity with universal Church on Germany visit

Jul 1, 2021

By CNA Staff

Cardinal Parolin was marking the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Germany and the Vatican. Read more

St. Hedwig’s Cathedral, the cathedral of the Berlin’s Catholic archdiocese.

Berlin Catholic archdiocese releases previously unpublished section of abuse report

Jun 18, 2021

By CNA Staff

Part C of the report presents the personnel files of 61 accused clerics. Read more

Thomas Sternberg, president of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK), speaks at a ‘Synodal Way’ press conference.

The German Synodal Way: A CNA explainer 

Jun 14, 2021

By CNA Staff

The “Synodal Way” – in German: Synodaler Weg – is a controversial discussion process underway in Germany with the declared... Read more

Essen Cathedral, Germany.

Catholics submit ‘dubium’ to Vatican asking if Church in Germany is in schism

Jun 10, 2021

By CNA Staff

Three Catholics from the Diocese of Essen have formally requested a ruling from the Vatican’s doctrinal congregation. Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx, pictured in Rome Feb. 24, 2019.

Cardinal Marx offers resignation to Pope Francis

Jun 4, 2021

By CNA Staff

“Without doubt, these are times of crisis for the Church in Germany,” the cardinal wrote to the pope. Read more

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki.

Pope Francis orders apostolic visitation of Cardinal Woelki’s Cologne archdiocese

May 28, 2021

By CNA Staff

Apostolic visitors will evaluate “possible mistakes” by the cardinal and archdiocesan officials. Read more

Cardinal Vinko Puljić in Marija Bistrica, Croatia, in 2012.

Bosnian cardinal: Synodal Way’s ‘exotic ideas’ alien to a Church that survived communism

May 27, 2021

By CNA Staff

Cardinal Vinko Puljić said: “We cannot understand a Church in which sacrifice is a foreign word.” Read more

Thomas Sternberg, president of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK).

German Catholic, Protestant leaders share communion at ecumenical event

May 21, 2021

The gathering took place amid a controversy about intercommunion that drew the Vatican’s attention. Read more

Pope Benedict XVI on Aug. 28, 2010.

Benedict XVI to minor seminary: What has withered in Germany still blossoms in Poland

May 20, 2021

The 94-year-old pope emeritus was writing to the minor seminary in Częstochowa. Read more

Stock photo.

Parents detect disgraced sexologist’s theories in German Church’s abuse commission report

May 18, 2021

A parents’ association claimed that text contained theories linked to psychologist Helmut Kentler. Read more

Pavica Vojnović, leader of the pro-life prayer vigils in Pforzheim, Germany.

Court upholds German municipality’s pro-life prayer vigil ban

May 14, 2021

The court dismissed a challenge to a ban on a prayer vigil in front of a pre-abortion advisory center. Read more

Bishop Georg Bätzing, president of the German bishops’ conference. Courtesy: Diocese of Limburg

German Catholic bishops’ leader: ecumenical event ‘not about intercommunion’

May 14, 2021

Bishop Georg Bätzing insisted that the church services attended by both Catholics and Protestants would be “ecumenically sensitive.” Read more

Pavica Vojnović, who has led pro-life vigils in Pforzheim, southwest Germany.

Court hears pro-life challenge to German municipality’s prayer vigil ban

May 13, 2021

In 2019, the municipality in Pforzheim, southwest Germany, denied pro-lifers permission to hold vigils near a pre-abortion advisory center. Read more