104th Katholikentag in Würzburg (13-17 May 2026)
My first Catholic Congress was a wonderful surprise! Thousands of organizations. Clergy, laypeople, politicians, and so many good people (75,000). Schools were closed so that groups could sleep in them. Politicians came in large numbers (including their Prime Minister Friedrich Merz). There were hundreds of booths and several hundred presentations and meetings.
The town of Würzburg was decked out with banners everywhere with the moto: “HAB MUT – STEH AUF” (Have courage – Stand Up). That excellent motto was repeated again and again. Würzburg welcomed the thousands who came. There was free public transport. Despite a thunderstorm at the opening outdoor mass in the Residenzplatz the crowds came and the organisation was perfect with over 1000 volunteers.
Cardinal Grech listens to Theology student Finja Miriam Weber
The WSK team were fantastic! WSK (= We Are Church Germany) is known to everyone. And especially Christian Weisner, who is the public face of WSK.
Here are my 4 main highlights of my visit:
1. #OutInChurch co-celebrant. The closing Mass (17 May) was led by the Head of the German Bishops Conference Bishop Heiner Wilmer Amongst the co-celebrants were Cardinal Grech and Pastor Burkhard Hose (a High school priest who is also on the committee of #OutInChurch!!) These are the sort of actions we need to see a lot more of, and not just in Germany!!
2. Bishops and Laity co-operation. Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck (German Bishops Conference) and Professor Charlotte Kreuter-Kirchhof (ZdK = German Lay Catholics Association) at the Synod booth were particularly credible witnesses for the Synodal Path and Conference. They both stated that the most important thing is how power is shared. Their mutual respect for each other spoke volumes.
3. Bishop supports opening all ministries to women. The Auxiliary Bishop of Essen Ludger Schepers and the Protestant Sister Nicole Grochowina both spoke in favour of making all offices open to women! Sr Katharina Kluitmann OSF was an excellent facilitator. Sister Nicole spoke of the more than 50 years of women priests in her church. Bishop Schepers stated clearly that all ministries should be open to women and men – how to achieve this is not clear.
4. Cardinal Mario Grech had a bad day. The hall, which could hold 1600, but only about 400 came. Grech spoke about our church as an orchestra where everyone has their part and everyone has to play together. But he spoke for too long, and he spoke like a patriarch. The 25-year-old theology student asked good questions: Who decides which instrument one plays? Who is the conductor? The audience cheered her. At the same event Julieann Moran (General Secretary of Ireland’s Synodal Pathway) spoke very well: she listed 3 groups which need to see actions:
a. Those at the margins
b. Women
c. Abuse survivors
Colm Holmes
Chair
WAC International