Bishop Genn resigns: Farewell with a big festival in the Münster Cathedral

Bishop Genn resigns: Farewell with a big festival in the Münster Cathedral

On March 9, 2025, Dr. Felix Genn, the bishop of the diocese of Münster, officially offered his resignation as part of his 75th birthday. This step was announced during a service in the St. Paulus Cathedral, which is planned for Sunday. The apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Nikola Eterović, will announce the decision from Rome at the beginning of the celebration. In addition to Bishop Genn, Georg Bätzing, the chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, as well as bishops from Germany and the World Church are also expected. Representatives from politics and society from North Rhine-Westphalia are also invited to honor this significant moment.

dr. Felix Genn, who was born in the Eifel in 1950 and has been Bishop of Münster since 2008, has a long career in the Catholic Church. He was ordained a priest in Trier and previously served as an auxiliary bishop and bishop in Trier and Essen. Even after his resignation, Genn will continue to have an active influence in Rome; He remains a member of the bishop's congregation and leads a study group to expand his horizon of experience in the Catholic Church.

quiet holidays in Münster

In the coming holidays, it will be quieter around the cathedral and the Bischofshaus in Münster. This could be Genn's last summer vacation in the active service, since he would like to use the time for the necessary knee surgery and the subsequent rehabilitation. The health challenges have certainly also contributed to his resignation. The more precise planning of the celebrations and the reception in the Halle Münsterland shows that many people want to pay respect and recognition.

The decision to resign from Bishop Genn falls into a phase in which the German Catholic Church is under the influence of the "synodal path", a reform process that meets resistance within its own ranks. The bishops are currently working at their autumn general assembly, where various topics are discussed, including withdrawal offers from other clergymen and the constant challenges that affect the church. Bishop Franz-Josef Bode, the deputy chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, also emphasized in an interview that clearer regulations for bishop's withdrawal are necessary to improve the communication channels with Rome and to meet the expectations of the faithful.

The developments around the Catholic Church are complex and often accompanied by emotions. Genn's resignation is another step in a time that is shaped by challenges and the call for reforms within the church. The upcoming celebrations will certainly also offer a room for reflection and gratitude.