After the papal election: Many Catholics in Germany now want to see reforms

For Matthias Katsch, spokesperson for the victims' initiative "Eckiger Tisch," the matter is clear: The new Pope Leo XIV must finally take decisive action in the Catholic Church's abuse scandals: "Three popes have now dealt with the abuse crisis, which has developed into a global crisis of credibility for the Church," he explained on Friday. "And we are still waiting for decisive consequences."

The new pontiff must therefore immediately address structural changes in the Church: According to Katsch, these include a reform of canon law, a clearly regulated approach to suspected cases, and ultimately a "changed attitude of the Catholic Church toward human sexuality." He hopes that the new pope is the right man for this: "He brings good qualifications." Even as a cardinal, Robert Francis Prevost advocated for victims of sexual abuse in his second homeland, Peru.

Concrete steps toward equal rights for women are the most desired goal of many religious women in Germany. "Women must finally be taken seriously in their vocations," says Anja Karliczek, President of the Catholic German Women's Association. "Therefore, we hope that the next Pope will push for the opening of the sacramental diaconate to women."

The Federation of German Catholic Youth also demands access for all genders to all offices in the Church, for which the new Bishop of Rome should now quickly pave the way. "The new Pope must not only administer the Church, but also shape it," said the umbrella organization, which brings together 17 Catholic youth organizations.

Meanwhile, the reform movement "We are Church" is calling for greater participation of lay people in decision-making processes. The Central Committee of German Catholics welcomed the fact that the new Holy Father, in his first address, had already committed himself to the Synodal Path, which his predecessor, Francis, had embarked upon.

Georg Bätzing, chairman of the Catholic German Bishops' Conference, also emphasized this sentence from the short speech from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. The new head of the church spoke of a synodal church "that moves forward and wants to be there for all people." This is a statement "that also strengthens us as a church in Germany," says the Limburg bishop.

Munich Cardinal Reinhard Marx, who himself had a vote in the conclave, praised the new pontiff as a “man of listening.” He is therefore “very, very confident” about the upcoming further discussions on the Synodal Path to Change in the Catholic Church in Germany.

100,000 people cheer in Rome

Cologne Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, on the other hand, views Germany's reform path with skepticism – but he also believes that Prevost is the "right candidate" for the See of St. Peter: "He is someone who knows different worlds and, I believe, is able to connect them well," says Woelki. "And he can be what he is as Pope: a bridge builder."