Pope Leo XIV meets bishop of Mainz amid debate over lay preaching
Bishop Peter Kohlgraf of Mainz and Auxiliary Bishop Joshy George Pottackal spent an hour with Pope Leo XIV at Castel Gandolfo on August 31, 2026, and no details of the discussion have been released
Bishop Peter Kohlgraf of Mainz, Germany, and Auxiliary Bishop Joshy George Pottackal met with Pope Leo XIV for an hour on August 31, 2026, at Castel Gandolfo, the papal residence south of Rome. No details about the topics discussed have been released.
The meeting comes as the Catholic Church in Germany faces challenges and debates about its future, particularly the role of lay people in the life of the Church.
Lay preaching in the Diocese of Mainz
In an earlier interview, Kohlgraf said he did not intend to apply the Church's discipline reserving the homily to clergy. "For our diocese, the ban on lay preaching changes nothing in concrete pastoral practice," he said. His comment prompted discussion about lay involvement in preaching and about how bishops interpret Church norms.
