German Church leaders defend blessing guidelines

Leading German Church figures spoke in response to critical comments from Pope Leo XIV.

Leading German Church figures have defended the country’s guidelines on the blessing of same-sex couples in response to critical comments from Pope Leo XIV.

Irme Stetter-Karp and Bishop Georg Bätzing attend a synodal way press conference in Stuttgart, Germany, on Jan. 31, 2026. Credit: Synodaler Weg / Marko Orlovic.

Bishop Georg Bätzing, who oversaw the g…