Nightmare Church desired by German lay Catholic representatives. Desparate for a Super Francis

 "Equality for Women and Participation in Power in the Church"

Irme Stetter-Karp, President of the Central Committee of German Catholics.

Berlin. Irme Stetter-Karp has been President of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK), the largest Catholic lay organization in Germany, since 2021.

Before the 2013 conclave decided on the Argentinian Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Benedict XVI's successor. In a Stern poll, a three-quarters majority wanted the new Pope to allow contraception, accept divorce, abolish celibacy, allow female priests, and recognize the right to abortion. Do you think a poll would look similar today?

The weighting of the issues might be different, but otherwise, yes. We have relatively fresh and representative data from church members from 2024. 96 percent of Catholics urgently expect reforms from their church.

Do the laity want a Francis II or not?

They want a Pope who takes up Francis's initiatives and consistently continues to create binding structures. For example, there has not yet been any change in canon law, and there is a lack of commitment to the reform steps initiated by Francis.

So, should an implementer rather than a fisher of men sit on the Holy See?

Closeness to the people and their acceptance are also essential for the new Pope. Driving change was undoubtedly one of Francis's strengths. His successor must now continue this, but above all, incorporate it into appropriate structures. This task is enormous and requires considerable determination.

What do German Catholics specifically expect from the new Pope?

Above all, many want their church to recognize the diversity of life and believers. It's about ensuring that women can work in the church on an equal basis, for example, as priests. The German Church cannot decide this for itself. The issue of diversity also involves the handling of homosexuality and same-sex partnerships. Celibacy is also under question. Structurally, many lay people are concerned with overcoming clericalism. They demand a share of power in the church as well as accountability and transparency from its leadership.

What about the issues of contraception and abortion?

The truth is that when it comes to contraception, many believers no longer even look at the Catechism or ask questions. And not just young people, but also people of my generation. Regarding contraception, there are probably no special expectations of a new pope. We want the Catholic Church to fundamentally revisit its ideas on sexual morality in its teachings. On the issue of abortion, we stand for the dual advocacy of women and unborn life.

Many believe that the Global South's hour must now strike at the top of the Catholic Church, since this is where the majority of Catholics live. Would a Pope from Africa be good for your church?

It always depends on the personality. 

(Cathcon: Code for "Please God not Sarah"

Every Pope faces the challenge of respecting and considering different perspectives, including intercultural ones. I fully understand that the South and the peripheral regions now expect that, as a majority, they can also assert greater influence in the Vatican.

Advisors to the Bishops

The Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) is a body designed to coordinate the concerns of Catholic laypeople and their groups and support the work of the Catholic Church. It advises the German Bishops' Conference on issues of social, state, and church life and is composed of 231 lay representatives from various groups and dioceses. The ZdK is the initiator and sponsor of the German Catholic Days. Furthermore, the irregularly held Ecumenical Church Days are jointly organized by the ZdK and the German Protestant Church Congress. Together with the German Bishops' Conference, the ZdK is responsible for the Synodal Path. A large proportion of the lay people participating in the Synodal Path are appointed by the ZdK.

Progressive Catholics fear that this could lead to more dogma and setbacks in proposed reforms in the Church. Is there any truth to this?

Stereotypical attributions are out of place here. When we were working on our Church's Synodal Path in Germany, we hosted representatives from the Amazon Synod and the president of the Australian Bishops' Conference. The South American Church is more advanced than we are due to its pastoral challenges. There has long been an assembly there where bishops and lay people deliberate and decide together. So, black and white is no help here.

The late Pope stipulated in March that a reform plan should be adopted at a church assembly in Rome in 2028. Do you expect a new Pope to continue along the path laid out by Francis?

We certainly hope so, and we also consider it necessary. Otherwise, the Catholic Church in Europe, in particular, risks losing more members and further damaging its already tarnished credibility.

Now, more than ever, we need a Pope who demonstrates political courage and speaks to the conscience of the dictators of this era.

German Catholics have agreed on reforms within the framework of the Synodal Path – against the resistance of Rome. How does this differ fundamentally from the so-called World Synod, as Francis called his reforms?

It differs even at its starting point. In Germany, the major abuse study commissioned by the Catholic bishops and the uncovering of widespread cover-ups of sexual violence in the Church prompted church leaders and us, as the largest Catholic lay organization, to seek structural changes. The process began in 2019, and since then, intensive work has been done on changes at five synodal assemblies. The process will be evaluated in March 2026. The World Synod, appointed by the Pope, began its work in 2023. In the meantime, there have been positive efforts at mediation between the German Church and the Vatican. Their outcome will also depend on the new Pope.

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