The newly appointed Bishop Christian Würtz of Eichstätt, Germany, expects further debate over priestly celibacy, he told Br.de on July 12.
On Tuesday, Leo XIV appointed him from auxiliary bishop of Freiburg to the diocesan bishop of Eichstätt. During Germany's Synodal Way in 2022, he voted in favour of "blessings" for homosexual concubines and the "ordination" of women-clergy.
When asked about his predecessor, Msgr. Gregor Maria Hanke, who voted against those Synodal Way documents, Bishop Würtz said: "I think it goes too far to conclude from that that there are fundamental differences between him and me."
He described the different beliefs as "factional disputes."
Instead, he said, the focus should be on "what unites us": "That is also an important aspect of synodality - listening to one another, walking together, and learning from one another."
When it came to the topic of priestly celibacy, Bishop Würtz said: "This will certainly be a question that continues to occupy us in the near future."
He also said: 'The Church must always reform itself. If we stand still and nothing changes, that will not move the Church forward."
Picture: Christian Würtz © Pressestelle Bistum Eichstätt, #newsOxwkqtiudn