German Bishop Heiner Wilmer Pledges Church Reform

A bishop who speaks six languages and calls abuse "in the DNA of the Church" just became the voice of Germany's Catholic community.

Bishop Heiner Wilmer, 64, was elected chairman of the German Catholic Bishops Conference on February 24. Unlike many of his peers, Wilmer brings an international perspective shaped by years leading a religious order with members in 40 countries.

From 2015 to 2018, Wilmer served as superior general of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, traveling the world from offices in Rome. He studied in Paris and Rome, taught in Canada, and worked for a year in New York City's Bronx. He speaks German, Spanish, English, French, Italian, and Low German.

But it's what Wilmer says, not where he's been, that sets him apart.

At his 2018 consecration as Bishop of Hildesheim, Wilmer named sexual abuse the "most difficult and painful issue" facing the Church. He promised to "devote all his energy" to addressing it. Months later, he went further, telling a newspaper that "the abuse of power is in the DNA of the Church" and calling for radical change.

Those words outraged conservative Church members. They also signaled Wilmer's willingness to speak uncomfortable truths.

After his election, Wilmer again addressed abuse victims directly. "Their voices carry weight," he told journalists. Every effort to confront past wrongs gains "depth and truth" from victim testimony.

Why This Inspires

In his first speech as chairman, Wilmer emphasized dialogue over division. "The Holy Spirit lives not only in consensus, but also in disagreement," he said, reading from his smartphone for six minutes. He called the Church an ambassador of peace amid global conflicts, referencing the fourth anniversary of Russia's war against Ukraine.

Wilmer acknowledged the Church has endured a "difficult period." But his parish visits leave him encouraged. "Yes, we have problems and challenges. But people of faith are in good spirits," he said.

For many struggling Catholics, the Church remains an "important anchor."

Wilmer's background mirrors that of the new Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Prevost, who also led a religious order for years before higher office. Both men understand the global Church and the need for reform from the inside.

Germany's Catholic community faces declining membership and a crisis of trust. In Wilmer, they have a leader who refuses to minimize their pain or their potential.