Vatican bans German bishops from allowing laypeople to preach at Mass

A view of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican flag. Photo: National Catholic Register

On June 23, 2026, the Vatican published an official letter from the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, banning the introduction of exceptions for lay preaching in Germany, according to the National Catholic Register.

Rome stated that the homily is an integral part of the Liturgy and an act of teaching entrusted exclusively to ordained ministers – priests or deacons – through the sacrament of holy orders. Vatican representatives emphasized that this rule is not merely a disciplinary norm but flows from the very nature of the Liturgy.

According to the Dicastery, the proclamation of the Word of God in church is inseparably linked to the cleric’s mission and to the unity of Word and Sacrament. Instead of replacing clerics with laypeople, the Vatican advised Germany’s bishops to focus on improving the formation of their own clergy.

The letter stressed the importance of “ongoing formation of clergy” so that their homilies may be spiritually effective. At the same time, laypeople were reminded that they may preach in any other forms outside Mass, provided this is in accordance with canon law.

Earlier, in March of this year, German bishops had requested permission for laypeople to deliver homilies during the Eucharist, citing “pastoral reasons.”

As the UOJ reported, a Roman Catholic church in Italy invited an imam to preach about Islam.

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