THE CHURCH in Germany has strong institutions that contribute much to society, but Christianity is much bigger than its institutions, the Pope has told the country’s bishops. “One can truly speak of an erosion of the Catholic faith in Germany,” the Pope said in a written speech handed to the bishops last week. The bishops were ending their ad limina visit to the Vatican.
“Where in the 1960s almost every faithful everywhere attended Mass every Sunday, today it frequently is less than 10 per cent,” the Pope said. “People approach the sacraments less often. The Sacrament of Penance has almost disappeared. Fewer and fewer Catholics are confirmed or contract a Catholic marriage. The number of vocations to the ministerial priesthood and consecrated life has diminished significantly.”
