Catholic Church in Germany

The Latest

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, pictured in summer 2017.

Benedict XVI confirms he attended disputed 1980 meeting in Munich

Jan 24, 2022

By CNA Staff

A statement said that the mistake was the result of an editing error. Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx, pictured in June 2016.

Cardinal Marx ‘shocked and ashamed’ by Munich abuse report

Jan 20, 2022

By CNA Staff

The report accused the cardinal of mishandling two abuse cases. Read more

The Frauenkirche, the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising.

Benedict XVI, Cardinal Marx faulted in Munich abuse report

Jan 20, 2022

By CNA Staff

The report covers 1977 to 1982, when the future Benedict XVI led the archdiocese. Read more

Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer speaks at a press conference on June 22, 2020.

German Catholic bishop criticizes delay in Synodal Way gender-neutral language debate

Jan 12, 2022

By CNA Staff

Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer said: ‘I protest against this approach.’ Read more

Cologne Cathedral in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Vatican delays external audit of contracts in Germany’s Cologne archdiocese

Jan 7, 2022

By CNA Staff

The review must wait until the return of Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki. Read more

Pope Francis’ general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Jan. 5, 2021.

Pope Francis receives manifesto challenging German ‘Synodal Way’

Jan 5, 2022

By CNA Staff

The pope was presented with the document after his general audience. Read more

Bishop Rolf Steinhäuser, apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Cologne, Germany.

Canon lawyers to review abuse study contracts in Germany’s troubled Cologne archdiocese

Dec 9, 2021

By CNA Staff

The contracts relate to a landmark report released in March. Read more

Irme Stetter-Karp, the new president of the Central Committee of German Catholics.

Influential German Catholic lay group elects new leader

Nov 19, 2021

By CNA Staff

Irme Stetter-Karp succeeds the high-profile Thomas Sternberg. Read more

The Frauenkirche, the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising.

Report on handling of abuse cases in Germany’s Munich archdiocese delayed

Nov 5, 2021

By CNA Staff

The delay is caused by ‘new findings obtained in the recent past.’ Read more

Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer of Regensburg.

German Catholic bishop suggests ‘Synodal Way’ is using abuse crisis to reshape Church

Sep 30, 2021

By CNA Staff

The Synodal Way’s supreme decision-making body meets on Sept. 30-Oct. 2. Read more

Cardinal Walter Kasper.

Cardinal Kasper supports alternative ‘Synodal Way’ text

Sep 24, 2021

By CNA Staff

The influential theologian is considered to be close to Pope Francis. Read more

Archbishop Stefan Heße of Hamburg.

Pope Francis declines resignation of German Catholic archbishop

Sep 15, 2021

By CNA Staff

Hamburg Archbishop Stefan Heße announced in March that he was offering his resignation. Read more

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

Ahead of key ‘Synodal Way’ meeting, lay leader says: ‘What matters now is the ability to compromise’

Sep 6, 2021

By CNA Staff

Participants will votes on draft texts dedicated to hot-button issues. Read more

Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer of Regensburg, southern Germany.

German Catholic bishop proposes alternative ‘Synodal Way’ text

Sep 3, 2021

By CNA Staff

Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer presented the text on a new website. 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

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

Cardinal Walter Kasper.

Cardinal Kasper ‘very worried’ about German Church’s ‘Synodal Way’

Jun 10, 2021

By CNA Staff

Cardinal Walter Kasper said he hoped that the prayers of faithful Catholics “will help to steer the Synodal Way in... Read more

Gerhard Cardinal Müller, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, at a penance service in St. Peter's Basilica, March 29, 2019. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.

Cardinal Müller calls on Pope Francis to intervene with the Church in Germany

May 27, 2021

By CNA Staff

Gerhard Cardinal Müller on Monday called upon the Holy Father to intervene in the German situation to correct clerics who... Read more