The Catholic Church : Germany

Until 1994, the Catholic Church was divided up into 23 dioceses, five of which were archdioceses. As a result of the reorganization that followed the reunification of Germany, there are now 27 dioceses (seven archdioceses). Germany’s archbishops and bishops, seventy in all, consult together at the spring and autumn assemblies of the German Bishops’ Conference, which has a secretariat in Bonn.

The impetus from the Second Vatican Council for the involvement of the Catholic laity in church affairs is translated into action by elected lay representatives. Together with the 100 or more Catholic associations, they form the Central Committee of German Catholics. The visits of Pope John Paul II to the Federal Republic in 1980, 1987 and 1996 evoked a tremendous response and stimulated both the ecumenical movement and the dialogue between church and state.