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.
