Summary
During the sixth and final Synodal Assembly held in Stuttgart, Germany, Bishops discussed their implementation of decisions made during the Synod of Bishops. A comprehensive questionnaire was sent to all German Diocesan Bishops at the beginning of 2025 as a basis for this discussion. Out of 27 Bishops who participated, only 23 completed the survey. Birgit Mock, leader of the Commission of the Synodal Assembly responsible for evaluating and monitoring the implementation of synodal decisions, reported that no Diocese had fully implemented all decision outcomes. The majority of German Bistümer, including Passau, Cologne, Regensburg, and Eichstätt, were lagging behind in their efforts to implement synodal assignments. For example, only twelve Bistümer had developed standardized procedures for handling suspended or released priests. While there are various challenges faced by dioceses, Mock emphasized the importance of improving inter- and overdiocesan communication to learn from each other’s experiences, particularly regarding liturgy in dispersed communities where faith remains strong. She also proposed making existing guidelines more accessible to Bistümer. Furthermore, the commission suggested exploring ways to address differences in theological perspectives and content-related disputes within the Church. Mock highlighted the declining number of church members as an area requiring strategic planning for new discourse arenas and a clearer understanding that practical practice can precede doctrine.
Key Topics
Synodal Process, Dioceses Evaluation, Implementation Gaps
