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Bavaria to Ordain 11 New Priests This Year, Up from 2025
🇩🇪 Germany /Culture & Society

Bavaria to Ordain 11 New Priests This Year, Up from 2025

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency New plan
  • Eleven men will be ordained as priests in Bavaria's dioceses this year, an increase from six ordinations in 2025.
  • Ordinations have already occurred in Würzburg and Eichstätt, with others scheduled for June 27-28 in Bamberg, Augsburg, Passau, Regensburg, and Munich-Freising.
  • The Catholic Church maintains its requirement of celibacy for priests, despite ongoing criticism.

Bavaria's dioceses are set to ordain eleven men as priests this year, a notable increase from the six ordinations in 2025. This rise in new clergy marks a significant shift after a year with no ordinations in Munich-Freising, Eichstätt, and Passau.

In this year, eleven men will be ordained as priests in Bavaria's dioceses - that is more than in the previous year.

— dpaReporting on the number of new priests in Bavaria.

Ordinations have already taken place in Würzburg with one candidate and Eichstätt with three. The remaining dioceses, including Bamberg, Augsburg, Passau, Regensburg, and the Archdiocese of Munich-Freising, will celebrate their ordinations on June 27 and 28. Archbishop Cardinal Reinhard Marx will ordain three men in the Freising Cathedral.

Only they can celebrate the Eucharist.

— dpaExplaining the role of ordained priests in the Catholic Church.

Priests hold a central role in the Catholic Church, exclusively empowered to celebrate the Eucharist. The commitment to celibacy, or "abstinence" as stated in canon law, remains a core tenet of the priesthood. Despite years of criticism, there is no indication that the rule of celibacy will be relaxed.

The commitment to celibacy, or "abstinence," as it is stated in canon law.

— dpaDescribing the requirements for the priesthood.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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