Four prominent German bishops have confirmed they will not take part in the newly proposed national synodal body set to launch in 2026.
Newsroom (May 27, 2025, 10:45, Gaudium Press) The bishops’ decision to abstain casts doubt on the body’s claim to fully represent the Catholic Church in Germany.
Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne, Bishop Gregor Maria Hanke of Eichstätt, Bishop Stefan Oster of Passau, and Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer of Regensburg, all conservatives who participated in the controversial 2019-2023 Synodal Way, wrote to organizers on May 19, signaling their intention to boycott the new synodal body. Their absence raises questions about the body’s representativeness, as it is designed to include all 27 diocesan bishops.
The four bishops were critical of the Synodal Way’s push for reforms, including proposals on women deacons, celibacy, lay preaching, and the revision of the Church’s stance on homosexuality. One of the most contentious outcomes of the Synodal Way was the call for a permanent synodal council, a body tasked with decision-making on matters beyond diocesan control, which was opposed by the Vatican.
While the Vatican had previously ruled against the creation of a synodal council with governing powers, it did not force bishops to participate in the synodal committee, a transitional body tasked with preparing for the 2026 synodal body. The four bishops declined to fund the committee or attend its meetings.
In their May 19 letter, the bishops expressed surprise at being included in the synodal committee and clarified that they did not consider themselves de jure members. They also emphasized Rome’s objections to a synodal body with governing powers and reiterated that they remained committed to promoting “Roman synodality” in their dioceses, which they described as rooted in the “common celebration of the Eucharist” and the “faith and teaching of the Church.”
The bishops further criticized the naming of the proposed body as a “synodal council,” in line with Vatican objections, and affirmed their dedication to dialogue and consultation in line with the global synodal process initiated by Pope Francis.
The future of the synodal initiative remains uncertain, especially with the recent election of Pope Leo XIV, who participated in earlier talks with the German bishops. ZdK President Irme Stetter-Karp expressed hope that upcoming meetings in Rome would allow for clarification of the synodal body’s statutes. These discussions will likely shape the final form of the body, with a decision expected in October 2025.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from The Pillar
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