The bishops in Germany have renewed their request to the Vatican to allow lay men and women to give homilies during Mass. The proposal was discussed and approved during the spring plenary assembly of the German Bishops’ Conference held in Würzburg.

The newly elected president of the conference, Heiner Wilmer, said he will personally present the proposal to the Holy See during his next visit to Rome. The request seeks permission for qualified lay people, officially appointed by a diocesan bishop, to preach during the Eucharistic celebration.

This request is not new. A similar proposal from Germany had already been presented to the Vatican in 2023 but was rejected. However, the German bishops have decided to reopen the discussion, saying the issue is connected to wider debates in the Church about synodality, authority, and participation of the faithful.

The idea comes from decisions made during the German “Synodal Way,” a reform process in the Church in Germany that called for greater involvement of lay people in Church life. Supporters believe that trained lay people could help in preaching and pastoral work.

However, current Church law clearly states that the homily during Mass is reserved only for priests or deacons. According to the Code of Canon Law, the homily is part of the liturgy and is closely linked to the sacrament of Holy Orders.

Because of this rule, any change would require direct approval from the Vatican. Church teaching documents have also stressed that the homily cannot be delegated to others, even if they are well educated or spiritually qualified.

The renewed proposal is expected to lead to further discussions between the German bishops and the Vatican in the coming months.

The General Secretariat of the Synod has released the first two Final Reports of the Study Groups formed after the First Session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. These study groups were created by Pope Francis to reflect on important issues facing the Church today.

The newly published reports come from Study Group No. 3 and Study Group No. 4. Study Group No. 3 focused on “The Mission in the Digital Environment,” exploring how the Church can effectively share the Gospel and engage with people in the rapidly growing digital world. The report highlights the importance of responsible communication, digital evangelization, and the need for the Church to be present where people interact online.

Study Group No. 4 worked on “The Revision of the Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis in a Missionary Synodal Perspective.” This report studies ways to improve the formation and training of priests so that they can serve the Church in a more missionary and synodal way. It emphasizes listening, collaboration, and preparing priests to respond to modern pastoral challenges.

The publication of these reports was directed by Pope Leo XIV so that the entire People of God can share in the fruits of the reflections and discussions that took place during the Synod process. Each report is accompanied by a summary available in several languages to help readers understand the key points.

With the submission of these final reports, Study Groups No. 3 and No. 4 have completed their mission and are now officially concluded. The Synod Secretariat will continue releasing the reports of the remaining study groups in the coming weeks, with the next publication scheduled for March 10, 2026.