Pope attaches great importance to dialogue with German bishops

There had recently been tensions between Rome and the Church in Germany regarding the reforms of the Synodal Way. Bishop Michael Gerber now emphasises how important dialogue on this matter is to Pope Francis.

According to Bishop Michael Gerber of Fulda, dialogue with the German bishops is very important to Pope Francis, especially in view of some tensions. According to a statement by his diocese, the senior pastor said this after a conversation with the Pontiff on Monday morning. Gerber said that the Pope had sent a clear signal for the unity of the Church. The topics of the private audience were the common path of the universal Church and the Church in Germany as well as central developments in the diocese of Fulda.

Gerber assured the Pope of his personal commitment to the core concerns of the current universal church synod. Above all, he wanted to make sure that the impulses of the World Synod would be intensively taken up in the further processes in Germany after the conclusion of the Synodal Way. Especially ways of spiritual discernment were of central importance for him, it was said.

Gerber considered it an effective signal "that it was very important to the Holy Father to receive me despite the multitude of appointments and to really give me good time for an exchange without time pressure". The opportunity to meet with Francis had come about at short notice, as the Bishop was currently in Rome for several appointments in the context of the reform of priestly formation. The meeting with Francis was Gerber's first private audience with the Pope and reportedly lasted about half an hour.

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