Heiner Wilmer, elected chairman of the Catholic German Bishops’ Conference, is almost 65 — just four days older than his predecessor Georg Bätzing — so his appointment does not mark a generational shift. Yet Wilmer, bishop of Hildesheim, stands out among Germany’s 55 bishops.
Wilmer is a member of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Dehonians), an order of roughly 2,200 members active in about 40 countries. From 2015 to 2018 he served as the order’s superior general from offices in Rome, traveling widely and meeting Pope Francis on several occasions. Observers have noted parallels with figures such as the American Robert Prevost, who later became Pope Leo XIV after a long spell as an order’s superior general.
An international background
Wilmer speaks several languages and has an international résumé. He studied in Paris and Rome, taught for several months in Canada and spent a year working in the Bronx in New York City. After his consecration as bishop at Hildesheim Cathedral in September 2018, he delivered a speech 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 on the topic. At his 2018 consecration he described the “connection between sexual violence and abuse of power in our Church” as the most difficult and painful issue for him and vowed to devote all his energy to addressing it. He later said in a newspaper interview that “the abuse of power is in the DNA of the Church,” calling for radical rethinking — a remark that provoked strong reactions from conservative bishops and other church figures.
After his election as chair of the Bishops’ Conference on February 24, Wilmer again spoke directly to victims of sexual violence, saying their testimony gives “depth and truth” to efforts to confront past wrongs and that “their voices carry weight.”
Synodality, disagreement and reconciliation
In his first public statement as conference chair, read from his smartphone and lasting around six minutes, Wilmer emphasized synodality — the practice of 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 framed the Church as an ambassador of peace amid global crises and conflicts.
Referring to the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Wilmer appealed for peace and said, “We believe in the power of law over violence,” invoking the Church’s role in promoting justice and peace in troubled regions. He acknowledged that the Catholic Church in Germany has gone through a “difficult period” but said his parish visits suggest 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 people; roughly 20 million are Catholics and nearly 19 million are Protestants. The number of Christians in Germany is steadily declining — church membership losses and an aging membership mean deaths outpace baptisms — and many church buildings, parsonages and monasteries are being closed, demolished or repurposed.
When it comes to theological and ecclesiastical questions, the Bishops’ Conference often appears divided. Still, it has shown unity on some issues: two years ago the conference issued a notably emphatic and unanimous rejection of ethnic nationalism, racism and misanthropy, distancing itself from positions associated with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
A dynamic presence in Hildesheim
In his diocese, Wilmer is occasionally seen getting around by bicycle. At public appearances he has struck many as more dynamic and energetic than his predecessor, Bätzing, despite their similar ages. Bätzing had frequently sided with Catholic laypeople in disputes with Rome and had been criticized by more conservative bishops; by the end of his term he often appeared tired.
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 population overall.
This article was originally published in German.
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