Change of staff in Osnabrück: Dominicus Meier becomes the new bishop

Change of staff in Osnabrück: Dominicus Meier becomes the new bishop

In Osnabrück, the Catholic Church has a new bishop: Dominicus Meier, who is known as a moderate-conservative, has started his office in a festive service in the cathedral. This significant moment marks the end of an 18-month sedic vacancy caused by the resignation of his predecessor Franz-Josef Bode, which had granted mistakes in dealing with abuse cases.

Dominicus Meier, previously abbot to the Benedictine Abbey Königsmünster and former Auxiliary Bishop of Paderborn, brings not only a rich horizon of experience, but also a deeply rooted joy in encountering the people into the diocese. His bishop's motto, "through Christ we are brought together", reflects his wish to strengthen trust and connection to the community.

The new way of listening

As part of the inauguration, Meier wants to pursue a dialog -oriented approach. He plans to spend time in the future to get to know the different regions of his diocese - from the county of Bentheim to the East Frisian Islands - and to get into conversation with people. According to reports, he meticulously prepared for community visits during his time in Paderborn and always tried to respond to the concerns of the believers.

Meier has been awarded active listening and the exchange with experts, without bringing preferred opinions. His methodological approach could be crucial to meet the challenges against which the Catholic Church is currently standing. These challenges should not be underestimated: high number of exit and dwindling church tax revenue require basic financial and structural reforms that he has to advance during his term.

Special challenges will also bring the upcoming study on sexualized violence, which is presented shortly after its inauguration. This study should deal with the structural conditions of the Church, which may have led to abuse of power and a creeping ignorance of symptoms. Meier will be called to have open and constructive conversations and support reforms.

with a look at the future

Meier brings the spirituality of an order man and sees the shared responsibility of the believers a key to strengthening the church. The church challenges and the desire for reforms are not only noticeable, but also at the national level. The reform resolutions of the Synodal Way he supported show that he is ready to deal with the urgent questions of today.

Despite the challenging times, and at least with an economical budget, Meier would like to promote the positive aspects within the Catholic Church and at the same time set new impulses. The renowned church lawyer has recognized that the church has to go through changes in order to meet the needs of today's believers. Meier describes how important it is to continue to gain and strengthen the trust of people even in times of crisis and not to lose sight of the clear Christian center.

With a deep understanding of the complexity of the tasks that lie in front of him, Dominicus Meier will go on a journey that could significantly shape the image of the diocese of Osnabrück. Whether he can fulfill the wish of many creditors for a modern, transparent and appealing church will be decisive in the coming years.