Archbishop Gadecki Affirms Pope Does Not Approve of the German Synodal Path

The interview focused in particular on “the evaluation of the current situation made by the last plenary meeting of the episcopate.” Of course, the question of the war taking place in Ukraine, at the gates of the Polish state, was at the center of the conversation.

The President of the CEP, who is Archbishop of Poznan, took the opportunity to thank the Holy Father for having consecrated the whole world, and in particular Russia and Ukraine, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the feast of the Annunciation.

Archbishop Gadecki, explained the activities that the Polish Church has undertaken since the beginning of the war: aid to Ukrainian refugees on Polish territory, as well as support for those who have remained in their country.

It should be recalled that on February 22, 2022, the Archbishop of Poznan sent a letter to Msgr. Georg Bätzing, President of the German Bishops' Conference (DBK), on behalf of the Polish episcopate, expressing his “deep concern” about the way followed by the German reform, and making a systematic criticism of the axes of reflection of the Synodal Path.

In response, Bishop Bätzing, defended the reform process in a letter to Bishop Gadecki, published on March 24. According to the Bishop of Limburg, German Catholics are not lightly embarking on the “path of conversion and renewal” triggered by the abuse scandal, and even less by putting themselves outside the universal Church.

During his meeting with Francis, Archbishop Gadecki informed the pope of the serious difficulties concerning the universal Church, with regards to the questions raised by the German initiative.

According to the press release published on the CEP website, Pope Francis had used the term of the “so-called German ‘synodal path’ˮ to designate the Synodal Path. And the press release adds that “Francis distances himself from this initiative.”

If this report is true, and there is no reason to doubt it, it would be a serious monkey wrench thrown in the works of the German bishops. A disavowal which it seems they will not be able to ignore.

But what is unpleasant in this business, is the way of doing it. Going through one episcopate to warn another is at the very least incorrect, and a mark of a weak authority.

Unless the pope intervenes directly with the German bishops, which is of course possible, but of which there does not seem much hope. In any case that would in no way slow down the ardor of the pilgrims on the Synodal Path.

It remains to be seen how the German episcopate – as well as all the faithful going along with it – will react to this warning which comes to it in such an indirect way, and through bishops who have recently severely criticized the Synodal Path.