The Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has rejected a request from the German Bishops’ Conference to permit duly commissioned lay faithful to deliver the homily during the celebration of the Eucharist, even in exceptional circumstances.
The decision reaffirms that the homily is reserved to ordained priests and deacons by the nature of the liturgy. Vatican News said the dicastery’s letter, dated June 17, 2026, was addressed to Bishop Heiner Wilmer SCJ, president of the German Bishops’ Conference, and rejected an indult requested on March 30.
