Archbishop Gössl: Church changes as a sign of liveliness

Von Kl Redaktion

In the Catholic Church, there are currently profound changes that are both challenged and discussed by bishops and parishioners. The Bamberg Archbishop Herwig Gössl has recently made a clear statement on this topic. At a service in Speyer on Saturday, he emphasized: "Changes will not fail, even if they are exhausting and unpopular." This statement not only reflects the current reality, but also asks to question the importance of such changes.

Gössl sees a sign of vitality in the necessary adjustments. Against the background of the current challenges in society and the changes in the landscape of faith, it is crucial that the church remains active and develops further. In his perspective, the changes are seen as part of a larger process that always includes the search for the will of God.

joint training of pastors

A concrete example of the changes in the church is today's introduction of a joint training program for prospective pastors in the church province of Archbishop Gössl. This province not only includes his archbishopric, but also the dioceses of Würzburg, Eichstätt and Speyer. The training takes place in conjunction, whereby 19 people are currently involved in this initiative. This shows that a common solution is sought despite human resource bottlenecks.

The archbishop admitted that the collaboration originally arose from financial and personnel necessities. At the same time, he feels a chance to think about the core of all church activities. He describes the question of God's will as "the synodal question par excellence", which means that the exchange and listening to God as well as in line with each other are essential in order to get a deeper understanding of the faith and the task of the Church.

These initiatives require courage and the willingness to cooperate across diocesides. Especially in times of change, it is important not to be prevented from fear of the unknown. Rather, it is precisely those changes that can lead to the Catholic Church staying alive and finding its place in the modern world. Gössl calls on the believers to actively participate in the search for answers to make the church sustainable.

In the coming months, it will be crucial how these changes will be implemented in practice and what response you will find in the community. Archbishop Gössl's statement about the inevitable changes reflects that the church is also in a constant process of change that is not only necessary but also challenging. It remains to be hoped that this path to renewal will also fall on fertile soil and that faith will be strengthened.