Several prominent German Catholic bishops have publicly distanced themselves from US President Donald Trump.
The Archbishop of Cologne, Rainer Maria Woelki, stated to “Focus” that he could only agree with Pope Leo XIV’s strongly critical remarks about Trump. Woelki noted that the Pope, without naming names, criticized self-deification and the worship of money, and called for a cessation of wars. For Woelki, it was evident that Trump was displeased by the papal stance, observing, “Because for him, the Gospel does not seem to be the guiding principle of his political actions”.
Similarly, the Archbishop of Bamberg, Herwig Gössl, told the magazine that any policy threatening “the destruction of civilizations” which employs divisive rhetoric and prepares for military options, must be “firmly rejected from a Christian point of view”. While Gössl did not name the US President explicitly, the Bishop of Passau, Stefan Oster, addressed Trump directly. In a Facebook post, Oster expressed being “speechless” regarding the “alarming manner” in which the US President attacked the Pope. According to Bishop Oster, the US President is “dangerous” in “many respects”.
The bishops’ clear statements are also notable because the German Bishops’ Conference has officially refrained from making any comments regarding the dispute between the White House and the Vatican. Information from the magazine suggests that the silence from Germany’s highest Catholic body is due to a request from Rome. Because the Pope has already weighed in personally on Trump’s attacks, the instruction was for the regional churches to exercise restraint.
Speaking to “Focus”, a source close to the Bishops’ Conference indicated that the statement by Bishop Oster of Passau could “set the tone” for the Catholic Church in Germany. Oster had also mentioned Robert Barron, the US bishop, in his Facebook post. Oster expressed gratitude that Barron had since distanced himself from the President. However, he stated that following Trump’s “recent outbursts” it is no longer possible for Barron to remain a neutral voice in a committee of Trump’s MAGA movement without becoming “compromised”.
The article concludes by noting that Trump had described Pope Leo XIV as weak and greatly belittled after the Pontiff called for peace.