Germany’s new apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Hubertus van Megen, warned the nation’s bishops 28 September against pursuing a separate path for the Catholic Church, stressing that unity depends on fidelity to the pope and the Eucharist.
Addressing the German bishops’ fall plenary assembly in Fulda, the Dutch prelate said the papacy safeguards the church’s visible unity while the Eucharist deepens communion with Christ, preventing the church from becoming “a mere federation of separate communities” or an NGO.
His remarks echoed Vatican concerns about Germany’s Synodal Way, a reform process that proposed measures including blessings for same-sex couples, women’s ordination and expanded lay preaching.
Archbishop van Megen said synodality means “journeying together” and cannot leave parts of the church behind. The nuncio emphasised that Rome “is the visible centre and the guarantor of the unity of the Universal Church, to which the church in Germany also belongs.”
He also highlighted political tensions following electoral gains by the far-right Alternative for Germany party. The bishops’ meeting is also addressing abuse cases, adult baptisms, migration and artificial intelligence in the digital age.
