Bishops in Eichstätt: Layer and committees participate!

Bishops in Eichstätt: Layer and committees participate!

Eichstätt, Deutschland - The Catholic Church in Eichstätt faces a significant change. Bishop Gregor Maria Hanke, who has headed the diocese since 2006, submitted his resignation on June 8, 2025 to return to the pastoral service as a simple Father Gregor. This decision was accepted by the Pope "Nunc Pro Tunc", which means that resignation only becomes effective at a later date. Hanke looks back on a valuable time as a bishop and pleads for a simple farewell as part of a festival service on July 6, 2025 during the Willibald festival week, in which he is planning his extract from the Bishopshaus. His heart is to accompany people on questions of faith and prepare them for the sacraments.

In the form of a letter, the diocese and the diocesan administrator Alfred Rottler asked the church institutions to actively participate in the search for a new bishop. It is planned to develop a candidate profile that is intended to take a closer look at the suitability of possible successors. Spiritual depths, management experience, theological competence and pastoral practice play a central role. Hanke himself was known for his fair and appreciative way for a long time and stated that it was forgiven for any fulfilled expectations.

participation in the bishop's search

The diocesan administrator and its constant representative Michael Alberter appeal to various committees, including the diocesan council, the priestly council and the Catholic youth associations to actively help shape changes and investments. A questionnaire for suitability for the bishop's office has been sent to these groups, and the profiles developed are intended to help the Eichstätter cathedral chapter to create a suitable list of candidates. The results from this process are then transmitted to the Vatican via the papal ambassador, but the Pope is not tied to this list.

The lay participation, especially when choosing and ordering diocesan bishops, is discussed as a central point within the synodal path in Germany. The action text provides that a lay committee is set up with as many members as the cathedral chapter, even if the Bavarian Concordat of 1924 does not provide a direct participation of the laypersons when choosing a candidate.

A look into the future

With a catchment area of ​​over 6,025 square kilometers, 271 parishes and around 342,000 Catholics, which corresponds to about a third of the overall population of the diocese, the diocese of Eichstätt is faced with the challenge of not only finding the most suitable successor for Bishop Hanke, but also hearing and integrating the voices of the faithful. The historical importance of the diocese, which goes back to the 8th century, is particularly noticeable during this transition period.

How the developments continue remains to be seen. The next steps on the way to the ordered management of the diocese will show how the acceptance and commitment of the faithful in the diocese of Eichstätt will develop.

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