New head of German Catholics pledges reform
Deutsche Welle
February 25, 2026
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The new chairman of the Catholic German Bishops' Conference, Heiner Wilmer, has pledged to lead the Church through a period of significant challenge and reform. At 65 years old, Wilmer brings a wealth of international experience, having served as superior general of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and studied in Paris, Rome, and New York. Known for his multilingual skills and global perspective, he replaces Georg Bätzing, who faced criticism for his limited Italian language abilities and conservative approach to reform. Wilmer has already made headlines by addressing the pressing issue of sexual abuse within the Church, calling it "the most difficult and painful" challenge, and emphasizing the need for radical rethinking. His predecessor, Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, had a similarly transformative career as superior
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Originally published on Deutsche Welle on 2/25/2026