Heiner Wilmer, elected chair of the German Bishops’ Conference, is almost 65 — only four days older than his predecessor Georg Bätzing — so his appointment does not signal a generational shift. Still, the bishop of Hildesheim stands out among Germany’s 55 bishops.
Wilmer belongs to the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (the Dehonians), an order of roughly 2,200 members active in around 40 countries. He led the order as superior general from 2015 to 2018 from Rome, traveling widely and meeting Pope Francis during that time. Observers note that his trajectory — moving from international order leadership to a high national role — echoes patterns seen in other church figures who rose from order governance to prominent positions.
An international résumé
Wilmer speaks several languages and has an international background. He studied in Paris and Rome, taught briefly in Canada and spent a year working in the Bronx, New York. After his consecration in Hildesheim Cathedral in September 2018 he greeted the congregation in six languages — German, Spanish, English, French, Italian and Low German, the dialect of western Lower Saxony where he grew up on a farm.
Addressing sexual abuse and power
Sexual abuse has been a central and painful issue for the Catholic Church in Germany since at least 2010, and Wilmer has been outspoken about it. At his 2018 consecration he described the connection between sexual violence and abuse of power as the most difficult and painful issue for him and vowed to devote his energy to confronting it. In a later interview he said that the abuse of power is part of the Church’s DNA, a remark that drew strong reactions from conservative bishops and other church figures.
After his election as conference chair on February 24, Wilmer again addressed survivors directly, saying their testimony brings ‘depth and truth’ to efforts to face past wrongs and that their voices must carry weight.
Synodality, disagreement and reconciliation
In his first public statement as chair, a roughly six‑minute address read from his smartphone, Wilmer emphasized synodality — dialogue and shared decision-making — and argued that the Holy Spirit can be present not only in consensus but also in disagreement. He called for reconciliation and described the Church as an ambassador of peace amid global crises.
Marking the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Wilmer appealed for peace and invoked the rule of law over violence, saying, ‘We believe in the power of law over violence.’ He acknowledged that the Catholic Church in Germany has gone through a difficult period but reported that parish visits suggest many people of faith remain optimistic and that for many the Church still serves as an important anchor.
Political and demographic context
Germany has about 84 million inhabitants; roughly 20 million are Catholic and nearly 19 million Protestant. Church membership is steadily declining: an aging membership and falling baptisms mean deaths outpace new entries, and many church buildings, parsonages and monasteries are being closed, repurposed or demolished.
On theological and ecclesiastical questions the Bishops’ Conference often appears divided, though it has shown unity on some matters. Two years ago the conference issued a strong, unanimous rejection of ethnic nationalism, racism and misanthropy, explicitly distancing itself from positions associated with the far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
A dynamic presence in Hildesheim
In his diocese Wilmer is sometimes seen getting around by bicycle. At public events he has struck many as more dynamic and energetic than Bätzing, despite their similar ages. Bätzing often sided with Catholic laypeople in disputes with Rome and was criticized by conservative bishops; by the end of his term he frequently appeared exhausted.
Both Bätzing and Wilmer belong to the younger half of Germany’s 25 active bishops, but the broader picture of Catholic leadership in Germany reflects an aging clergy and an aging faithful.
Originally published in German.
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