The head of the Central Committee of German Catholics has voiced hope that the next pope will continue on the legacy of openness pursued by Pope Francis.

ZdK warned that the election of a conservative figure could pose challenges for the church in Germany.

ZdK president Irme Stetter-Karp told dpa that the church required leadership capable of meeting the demands of the 21st century.

She said the election of a conservative pope would likely pose a significant challenge for the Catholic Church in Germany.

She acknowledged the presence of forces within the Catholic Church that wished to maintain clerical power and viewed too much freedom for the faithful as a threat to church unity.

“This risk exists, and it is not small,” she said. “The ZdK represents the Catholic laity, the non-clergy in local parishes.

She added, “Together with the German Bishops’ Conference, the ZdK initiated a reform process in 2019, the Synodal Path.

“This focused on reforms within the church concerning lay preaching and same-sex couples, moves that infuriated conservatives, prompting some to speak of a schism and heresy.”

Surveys have repeatedly shown that the majority of German Catholics support liberalising reforms, including more rights for women and a shift in the church’s stance on sexual morality.

(dpa/NAN)