The Diocese of Münster is one of the largest dioceses in Germany (about 2 million Catholics), and in recent years has slightly surpassed Cologne (about 1.9 million).
He was elected as President of the German Bishops in February 2026.
Biographical Notes
Monsignor Wilmer was born on April 9, 1961, in Schapen, Diocese of Osnabrück. He was ordained a priest of the congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Dehonians) in 1987.
From 2007 to 2015, he served as Provincial of the Dehonians in Germany, and from 2015 to 2018 as Superior General of the congregation.
In April 2018, Francis appointed him as Bishop of Hildesheim.
"Blessing Ceremonies for Transvestites"
In an October 2021 homily, he called for "a fresh perspective on sexuality".
In 2022, he supported OutInChurch, a movement composed of homosexual Church employees.
Following the Vatican's rejection of the blessing of same-sex unions, Monsignor Wilmer released a press statement (25 January 2022): "We must continue to discuss the blessing of same-sex couples and should not treat it as a taboo. The point is to acknowledge the lived realities of same-sex partnerships today."
In September 2022, he voted in favour of a text from the German Synodal Way that sought to "change" Catholic sexual morality. The text called for the acceptance of homosexual acts and diverse fictive gender identities: "I struggle greatly with the fact that the two-thirds majority of the bishops was not achieved," said Bishop Wilmer. This was a "real disappointment".
He also voted "Yes" to this text: “Since homosexual orientation is part of the human being as created by God, it is not to be judged ethically differently from heterosexual orientation.” The synodal text added: “Same-sex sexuality, including sexual acts, is therefore not a sin that separates us from God, and it is not to be judged as inherently evil.”
In December 2023, Monsignor Wilmer welcomed the homosexual pamphlet Fiducia Supplicans describing it as "good news" and "direction-setting".
In September 2024, he appointed three people to provide pastoral care for homosexuals in Hildesheim: "This team will provide guidance in cases as diverse as the baptism of a child from a lesbian couple, blessing ceremonies for transgender individuals celebrating their transition, and supporting families with non-binary children."
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