German Catholics have come to the end of the synodal path, their process of reforming the Church which began in 2019. This assembly voted in favor of the adoption of a draft text which focused in particular on the most more divisive, such as homosexuality or the marriage of priests.
With our correspondent in Berlin, David Philippot
Official blessings for homosexual couples from 2026 and the right for women to preach in religious services, such as baptism or marriage… These are the two key measures voted by a large majority (97%) of the assembly responsible for reflecting on a reform of the Church composed of clergy and laity.
The President of the Episcopal Conference, Georg Bätzing, spoke of a path directed towards the future. This representative of the liberal wing of the clergy defends himself from wanting to create a schism with the Vatican which continues to qualify homosexuality as a sin and which contests the legitimacy of this assembly. But the German Catholic Church wants push Rome to reform to stem the flight of his followers. As a result of the pedophilia scandals, more than a million believers have left the Church in Germany.
The last word goes to Pope Francis
These claims are met with opposition from Rome. Pope Francis and the Roman Curia oppose, in principle, equal rights between religious and laity. The last word will go to the sovereign pontiff to whom the synod has also asked to look into, another thorny question, the question of celibacy for priests..
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