Pope Francis' Representative in Germany Nuncio Nikola Eterovic Expresses Concerns over Synodal Way to German Bishops

The Apostolic Nuncio in Germany, Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, addressed the participants of the autumn plenary assembly of the German bishops in Fulda with a greeting. In it he emphasized on Monday evening "synodality, collegiality and community as the complementary realities of Catholic churchliness" and in this context again expressed the concerns of the Pope and Vatican regarding the "synodal path" of the Catholic Church in Germany.

Nuncio Eterovic reminded German bishops of unity with the Pope
New official structures or teachings could only be introduced in coordination with the universal church, said Nuntius Nikola Eterovic to the German bishops. He promotes a "unity of the members of the entire episcopate with the bishop of Rome".

Papal ambassador Nikola Eterovic greeted  the Attendees of the Autumn General Assembly the Germans Bishops' Conference (DBK) in Fulda.

(Opening Mass of the DBK Assembly Below)

 

Pope Ambassador Nikola Eterovic addressed the participants of the autumn plenary assembly of the German Bishops' Conference (DBK) in Fulda with a greeting . In it he again expressed the concerns of the Pope and the Vatican regarding the reform efforts in Germany . New official structures or teachings could only be introduced in coordination with the universal church. In this sense, the Apostolic Nuncio promotes "unity of the members of the whole episcopate with the Bishop of Rome". The Archbishop also warned against exerting "undue pressure" to achieve desired goals. Eterovic also opposed "parliamentarism" in the church on the subject of synodality and emphasized the value of secret voting. "By the way, the secret ballot is one of the methods of the Church that has been practiced for centuries in important votes, in the election of superiors in many orders and congregations, right up to the papal election in the conclave," said the nuncio. A high level of agreement with draft resolutions in a secret ballot depends on the "depth" of the previous dialogue and on the willingness to accept changes in draft texts. At the fourth synodal assembly of the synodal path, numerous texts were voted on by name . The DBK chairman, Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg, had previously claimed support from Pope Francis for the synodal path . "The pope himself is a great reformer, so it is not a good perception to say that he is an opponent of the synodal path," said Bätzing. Francis made critical comments as to whether the topics of evangelization and mission were sufficiently localized. "But we say that we first have to build the structures in such a way that people can even accept the gospel again." (tmg/KNA)

Source: Katholish.de