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Bishop Georg Bätzing: "Relief and concern"
Photo: Johannes Neudecker / dpa
During their almost one-week visit to the Vatican, the German bishops pressed Pope Francis for a decision on the future of Cologne Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki.
The chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, Bishop Georg Bätzing, said on Saturday in Rome: "It was made very clear that the situation in the Archdiocese of Cologne is becoming increasingly unbearable, both for the Archbishop and for the faithful."
Woelki has long been criticized for cover-up allegations in connection with the Catholic Church's abuse scandal.
The Pope has not yet decided on Woelki's resignation.
Bätzing said Francis did not want to make a decision under pressure.
However, it must also be taken into account that the pressure in Germany is becoming unbearable.
However, the Pope did not comment on how he wanted to decide in the Woelki case.
"Hard to the point and discussed in a binding manner"
The German bishops were on a so-called ad limina visit to the Vatican from Monday to Friday.
This is a regular mandatory visit that is usually scheduled every five years.
The bishops meet the heads of important authorities of the Holy See in addition to the Pope.
For the German clergy, it was the first visit of this kind in seven years.
Bätzing leaves the Vatican after the week-long deliberations with mixed feelings.
"Relief and concern" were his two impressions, said Bätzing.
In his own words, the chairman of the bishops' conference feels relieved because all the topics in the talks with the cardinals and Pope Francis have come up on the table.
But he is worried because he cannot estimate what dynamic the visit will unfold on the so-called synodal path of the German church.
The synodal path of the German Church wants to achieve reforms within the Catholic Church.
In the world church, however, the German striving for reform is viewed very skeptically.
Bätzing said this remained the case during the talks with the German bishops.
Nevertheless, the bishops' conference stuck to their concerns.
»In Rome we discussed the matter in a tough and authoritative manner.«
According to Bätzing, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the prefect of the Bishops' Congregation, fears that the synodal path in Germany could ignite a conflagration in the church.
However, the German bishops had made it clear that the Church lived in a time when blockades, bans or intimidation were no longer possible.
wit/AFP
