Sunday, July 30, 2023

German bishops meet with Vatican officials on ‘Synodal Path’ plans

Representatives of the Roman Curia and the German Bishops' Conference (Deutsche Bischofskonferenz, DB) met in the Vatican. 

It was a continuation of the dialogue initiated during the ad Limina visit of the German bishops in November 2022. 

There, it was agreed that the theological and disciplinary issues that emerged in particular in the “Synodal Way” would be further discussed. 

The meeting took place in a positive and constructive atmosphere. It was to be followed by others.

From the Roman Curia, Cardinals Luis F. Ladaria Ferrer, S.J., Kurt Koch, and Pietro Parolin, and Archbishops Filippo Iannone, O.Carm., Robert F. Prevost, O.S.A., and Vittorio F. Viola, O.F.M., were present.

The speakers on the part of DB were Bishops Georg Bätzing, Stephan Ackermann, Michael Gerber, Bertram Meier, Franz-Josef Overbeck, respectively president of the DB and presidents of the Bishops’ Commissions for Liturgy, Vocations and Ecclesial Services, Universal Church, and Faith, as well as the Secretary General, Dr. Beate Gilles, and the Conference Spokesperson, Matthias Kopp.