Germany: Heiner Wilmer is the new chief bishop

"Bishop Wilmer of Hildesheim is different from most of the 55 German bishops. Wilmer belongs to the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, an order with around 2,200 members active in some 40 countries worldwide. From 2015 to 2018, he was their superior general, with offices in Rome. In this role, he regularly traveled around the world."

"Critics of Wilmer's predecessor, Batzing, occasionally pointed to his lack of knowledge of Italian, which would have been necessary to engage in dialogue or dispute with the Roman Curia. Wilmer, on the other hand, speaks multiple languages. Among other places, he studied in Paris and Rome."

"In September 2018, after being consecrated as bishop at Hildesheim Cathedral, he delivered a speech in which he spoke in six languages: German, Spanish, English, French, Italian and Low German, the dialect spoken in western Lower Saxony, where he was raised on a farm."

Heiner Wilmer has assumed the role of chairman of the Catholic German Bishops Conference, succeeding Georg Batzing. At nearly 65 years old, Wilmer represents continuity rather than generational change. His background distinguishes him from most German bishops: he served as superior general of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus from 2015 to 2018, leading an international religious order with 2,200 members across 40 countries. His career includes extensive international experience, having studied in Paris and Rome, worked in Canada and New York, and maintained regular contact with Vatican leadership. Wilmer speaks six languages fluently, addressing a key criticism of his predecessor's lack of Italian proficiency. Since his 2018 consecration as Bishop of Hildesheim, Wilmer has prioritized addressing sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, a critical issue in Germany since 2010.

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