New diocese boundaries: Eichstätt and Bamberg are moving on January 1st!

New diocese boundaries: Eichstätt and Bamberg are moving on January 1st!

An exciting realignment is imminent in the Bavarian church landscapes: from January 1, 2026, the border between the dioceses of Eichstätt and Bamberg will be redrawn. As the South German newspaper reported, the request for border adjustment was made by Archbishop Herwig Gössl from Bamberg and Bishop Gregor Maria Hanke from Eichstätt and approved by the Vatican. The aim of this measure is to better adapt the diocese boundaries to the pastoral practices of the faithful.

The changes only affect a few hundred Catholics. In Nuremberg, for example, the area of ​​St. Gabriel in the Marterlachsiedlung district will move from Bamberg to Eichstätt. These believers had previously been looked after by the Archdiocese of Bamberg. A total of 340 Catholics in Nuremberg and 411 in Ansbach are affected by the changes. In this context, the church tax is viewed as a fair exchange.

Borders and communities

There are also shifts in Ansbach. Several districts, such as Brodswinden, Hammerschmiede and Höfstetten, officially switch to the diocese of Eichstätt. Traditionally, however, these districts have always been looked after by parishes of the Eichstätt diocese, which may make the change less abrupt. Pastoral care is also being reorganized in the cities mentioned.

The Archdiocese of Bamberg and the Diocese of Eichstätt have only made minimal changes to their territories in order to improve the pastoral care of the faithful. Those interested can read the exact course of the new borders in the official gazette of the Diocese of Eichstätt. The document was also signed there by the Apostolic Nuncio to Germany, Archbishop Nikola Eterović, which gives a formal framework to the official confirmation of the changes.

A look at the future

The realignment of the diocese's boundaries is not just a question of geography, but also a step towards a modern pastoral system that wants to better take the needs of the faithful into account. At a time when the Catholic Church in Germany is facing a variety of challenges, this measure shows that it is prepared to adapt its own structure to the real circumstances in the communities.

For all believers affected by these changes, it is to be hoped that the new assignment will offer them a stronger community and more intensive pastoral support. The official implementation in the new year is eagerly awaited, while the two dioceses - as reported Catholic News Agency can be read - must continue to master the challenges and opportunities of church work in their regions.

If you would like to find out more about the background, you can find further information on the website Archdiocese of Bamberg.