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Pope Francis with German Cardinals Woelki and Marx
Photo: IMAGO/VATICAN MEDIA / ipa-agency.net / IMAGO/Independent Photo Agency Int.
In the Vatican there are fundamental concerns about the so-called synodal path of the German Catholic Church.
This was formulated by the leading cardinals Luis Franciso Ladaria and Marc Ouellet at a meeting with 62 German bishops, as the Vatican and the German Bishops' Conference announced on Friday evening in Rome.
Accordingly, Cardinals Ladaria and Ouellet "clearly and openly" expressed their "concerns and reservations," the statement said.
Cardinal Ladaria is Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Ouellet Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops - both are among the leading figures in the universal Church.
As the bishops' conference and the Vatican explained, the concerns of the cardinals relate to the methodology, the content and the proposals of the synodal path - in other words, almost all central points of this forum of the German church.
The synodal path demands, among other things, a greater say for the laity, more participation by women and a debate on compulsory celibacy for priests.
In the debate between the cardinals and the German bishops, according to the information, even a moratorium - i.e. a postponement - of the synodal path planned until next spring was up for discussion.
But this was rejected.
"In view of the misunderstandings that have arisen" between Rome and the German Church, further reflection and mutual listening should now be encouraged - the declaration left open how this should happen in concrete terms.
The German bishops' conference has been in Rome since Monday for talks with the curia there and with Pope Francis, it was the first so-called ad limina visit since 2015. The relationship between the German church and the Vatican has been tense for a long time.
In Rome, the synodal path launched in response to the abuse scandal is viewed with a great deal of skepticism.
The meeting was moderated by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
According to the information, Parolin also made his skepticism about the synodal path clear.
dop/AFP