Vatican and German Bishops Issue Joint Statement as they Discuss Vatican's Disciplinary Issues that arose from the German Synodal Way - FULL TEXT
Representatives of the Roman Curia and the German Bishops' Conference exchanged views this Wednesday in the Vatican. This emerges from a joint press release that was published in the evening. The meeting is described as a "continuation of the dialogue" that began during the German bishops' ad limina visit in November 2022.
During the ad limina visit, it was agreed that the theological and disciplinary issues that arose in particular in the synodal journey need to be discussed further.
The meeting this Wednesday took place "in a positive and constructive atmosphere". Further meetings would follow, according to the joint press release published in German and Italian.
Cardinals Luis F. Ladaria Ferrer SJ, Kurt Koch and Pietro Parolin and Archbishops Filippo Iannone O.Carm., Robert F. Prevost OSA and Vittorio F. Viola OFM were present from the Roman Curia.
According to the DBK, the bishops Georg Bätzing, Stephan Ackermann, Michael Gerber, Bertram Meier and Franz-Josef Overbeck took part on the part of the German Bishops' Conference - as chairman of the German Bishops' Conference and as chairman of the bishop's commissions for liturgy, for clerical professions and church services, for the universal church and for the faith. In addition, the Secretary General, Beate Gilles, and the spokesman for the German Bishops' Conference, Matthias Kopp, were present.
FULL TEXT Press Release:
Joint Communiqué of the Holy See and the German Bishops’ Conference, 26.07.2023
Today, representatives of the Roman Curia and the German Bishops' Conference (Deutsche Bischofskonferenz, DB) met in the Vatican. It was a continuation of the dialogue initiated during the ad Limina visit of the German bishops in November 2022. There, it was agreed that the theological and disciplinary issues that emerged in particular in the “Synodal Way” would be further discussed. The meeting took place in a positive and constructive atmosphere. It was to be followed by others.
From the Roman Curia, Cardinals Luis F. Ladaria Ferrer, S.J., Kurt Koch, and Pietro Parolin, and Archbishops Filippo Iannone, O.Carm., Robert F. Prevost, O.S.A., and Vittorio F. Viola, O.F.M., were present.
The speakers on the part of DB were Bishops Georg Bätzing, Stephan Ackermann, Michael Gerber, Bertram Meier, Franz-Josef Overbeck, respectively president of the DB and presidents of the Bishops’ Commissions for Liturgy, Vocations and Ecclesial Services, Universal Church, and Faith, as well as the Secretary General, Dr. Beate Gilles, and the Conference Spokesperson, Matthias Kopp.
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