According to the German media outlet Katholisch.de, Wilmer explained this Thursday, at the end of the autumn plenary assembly held in Fulda, that he had prepared for the Rome meeting by holding conversations with «very different couples.»
Among them, he specifically mentioned same-sex couples and persons who, after a divorce, have entered into a second civil marriage. Their experiences, he noted, will be brought by him to Rome.
The reference came during the closing press conference of the German plenary, in which Wilmer reviewed some of the main issues addressed by the bishops during four days of meetings in Fulda.
The increase in adult baptisms
Wilmer also referred to the growth in adult baptisms recorded in several European countries between 2019 and 2025.
According to the data cited by the president of the DBK, France recorded an increase of 210%, Sweden 140%, Belgium 119%, and Germany 28%.
The Bishop of Hildesheim, however, rejected interpreting these figures as a reversal of the secularization process.
«The significant increase does not mean a reversal of secularization,» he stated, and added that it must be considered in relation to the sharp decline in infant baptisms. He also maintained that this growth cannot be directly attributed to a new evangelization.
Wilmer acknowledged that the German Church is still in an initial phase in studying this phenomenon and noted that it will pose a challenge both for the dioceses and for the new episcopal commission on «Missionary Pastoral Care and Ecclesial Services.»
He further argued that the goal should not be to quickly incorporate as many new members as possible, but to adequately accompany those who approach the Church from different personal, social, and cultural backgrounds.
AfD and dialogue with its voters
Another issue addressed was the German political situation. The prelate reiterated the German Bishops’ Conference’s critical stance toward the AfD and stated that the bishops continue to follow the party’s electoral growth with concern.
He attributed this position to what he considers incompatibilities between parts of its program, rhetoric, and political orientation and the Christian conception of the person.
At the same time, he defended the need to maintain spaces for dialogue with its voters. «We need spaces more oriented toward listening than speaking,» he stated, while noting that the Church must seek to understand the reasons behind those electoral decisions before presenting its position from the Gospel and Catholic social teaching.
Rome still needs to respond on the Synodal Conference
The president of the DBK also referred to the statutes of the future German Synodal Conference, whose recognitio is still pending from Rome.
Wilmer stated that he expects a response from the Vatican before the end of this year or at the beginning of 2027.
The German Bishops’ Conference also reported the creation of a national synodal team tasked with accompanying the next phase of the process until 2028.
The schedule includes diocesan assemblies until June 2027, a national assembly in the autumn of that same year, and a subsequent continental phase during the first months of 2028.
The Fulda plenary, held from Monday to Thursday, concluded with several open fronts for the German Church: the upcoming meeting in Rome on Amoris laetitia, the wait for a Vatican response on the future Synodal Conference, and the internal debate on evangelization, secularization, and the public presence of the Church.