Felix Genn: Bishop with a balancing streak and a good connection to Rome

Felix Genn is one of the old hands among German bishops. He has headed the diocese of Münster for 16 years, and before that the neighbouring diocese of Essen for six years. He also spent four years as auxiliary bishop of Trier. His experience in three dioceses contributed to the fact that he was repeatedly asked to act as a mediator in church infighting. Pope Francis accepted his resignation on Sunday and he was bid farewell with a festive service in Münster.

The Eifel farmer's son, born on 6 March 1950 and raised in Wassenach near the Benedictine abbey of Maria Laach, turned 75 on Thursday (6 March) - the church's age limit for bishops.

Genn has had to deal with what he calls two "energy-sapping challenges" facing the Church in Germany: In the Ruhr diocese of Essen, primarily a lack of money and increasingly underutilised properties. Against sometimes fierce opposition, he merged 259 parishes into 43 parishes and had churches converted. He also implemented structural reforms in the traditional diocese of Münster.

Abuse the greatest challenge

Above all, however, he had to deal with the abuse scandal there. Genn apologised for mistakes in dealing with cases in Münster and Essen. At the presentation of an abuse study in the diocese of Münster in the summer of 2022, he also promised a transparent way for employees and other believers who disagree with decisions made by the bishop and his authority to question and negotiate them. Shortly before his retirement, he set up an arbitration council and a disciplinary code for clergy at the beginning of March.

This is also in line with the Catholic reform debate in Germany, the Synodal Path. Genn's unifying role became particularly clear there. He is part of the majority of bishops who see no alternative to discussing church structures that made abuses possible. But with a view to the minority who want to preserve church doctrine and the obligation of celibacy, Genn called for the art of attentive and sympathetic listening.

He is an enthusiastic supporter of the synodal style of behaviour in the church proclaimed by Pope Francis. In his farewell sermon in Münster, he warned Catholics against moulding the Church to their own liking. In his last pastoral address, he called on Christians to continue to bear witness to God's love "against all hypocrisy, forlornness and hopelessness". In doing so, he said, the parishes should focus above all on poor and weak people.

On the one hand, it bothers Genn that celibacy, "the secret of my life with Jesus", is constantly under attack. On the other hand, he showed himself to be cautiously open to the possibility of married and unmarried priests living side by side early on in the Synodal Path.

Church doctrine and lived practice

Claims that he has changed his stance over the years make the bishop smile. "I think that I have stuck to my basic views and try to take a differentiated approach to questions," he said in an interview with the Catholic News Agency (KNA). Church doctrine and people's lived practice must be combined, and some dissent must be tolerated - without condemning people.

Genn's balancing streak is also known in the Vatican. Rome is a regular destination for him. As a member of the Vatican bishops' authority, Genn, who worked for years in priest training, helps to select new senior pastors. Unfortunately, there are many cancellations, says Genn. The office of bishop has "something overwhelming" about it. In retirement, he therefore wants to continue working on a papal reform project that aims to involve more people in the search for church leaders.

Talking to young people

Genn is particularly keen to talk to young people about faith. The bishop, who used to teach Christian spirituality, repeatedly invited young people to catechesis. He considers such encounters to be some of his favourite experiences. For him, however, preaching also includes clear words on social issues. "Seek peace" was the motto of the 2018 Katholikentag in Münster. Concerned about the future of Germany, he launched a democracy campaign at the beginning of this year. "We must be on our guard," he warns.

In all his years as a bishop, Genn has retained one passion. He likes to open a bottle of wine from his old domain on the Moselle for guests. And on the evening of his resignation, it may well be a selection "with a considerable date".