Diocese of Münster is looking for a new bishop: Who will be the chosen one?

Diocese of Münster is looking for a new bishop: Who will be the chosen one?

The search for a new bishop for the diocese of Münster has started after Pope Francis accepted the age -related application for resignation from Bishop Felix Genn on March 9, 2025. Since this date, the diocese has been without its own bishop, which the believers in the region fall into a phase of uncertainty. The new bishop will be the first diocesan bishop that the new Pope appoints. The process for the appointment of the new bishop could take a few weeks because various Vatican bodies are involved. According to Kirchen-und-leben.de plans to find a suitable candidate until May.

The selection process is extremely complex. The cathedral chapter has the option of submitting a list of suitable candidates to the Holy Chair from which a list of three is created. This list comes from the suggestions of the cathedral chapter and other bishops. The new bishop should be at least 35 years old, for at least five years of priest and ideally doctorate. Requirements such as faith resistance, prudence and good lifestyle are also important so that it is able to announce the gospel, report Vaticannews.de

The election process in detail

The election process includes several electoral courses, with an absolute majority being needed in the first and second ballot. A simple majority is sufficient in the third ballot. The participation of 16 delegates of the diocesan council in the consultations shows that the process also provides for the inclusion of various opinions, but these delegates have no voting rights. The possibility for bishops from other dioceses to submit suggestions is another aspect of the comprehensive aptitude test of the potential candidates.

When a candidate is elected and accepts the election, the state government asks for possible political concerns before the name is communicated to Rome. The final appointment decision lies with the Pope. The diocesan administrator Antonius Hamers and his deputy Klaus Winterkamp lead the ongoing processes in the diocese and contribute to the stability during this transition phase, such as Vaticannews.de explained.

elements of the synodal path

Another important point in relation to the bishop's choice is the development of the synodal path, which was launched in 2023. It is agreed that lay people should be included in the selection process for new bishops. However, this project is not yet widespread, since only the diocese of Paderborn has presented a concrete proposal for implementation. Critics and church lawyers Norbert Lüdecke express concerns about the feasibility of these reforms, since they believe that laypeople cannot enforce a candidate against the cathedral chapter, such as katholisch.de analyzed.

The synodal path aims to reform the existing procedure by installing a synodal advice in every diocese that supports the cathedral chapter in the bishop's order. The pressure on those responsible is high, since the resignation offers from other bishops could also result in new election procedures.