“We will not tire of emphasizing that the church in Germany will not follow a ‘German special path’,” said a joint statement by the Synodal Presidium, the president of the German Bishops’ Conference and ZdK President Irme Stetter-Karp.

In an address to members of three religious orders, the pope asked for "zero tolerance" for abusers in the church and expressed his "closeness" with the people of Ukraine.

“Sow integrity for yourselves,” urges Hosea. Right now in the U.K., that feels like the most urgent political task.

The crisis should inspire the U.K. to reflect upon the values upheld by figures in public life, said Bishop Egan.

“The figures for 2021 show the profound crisis in which we find ourselves as the Catholic Church in Germany," said Bishop Georg Bätzing.

Retired Bishop Lucas Van Looy of Ghent, Belgium, asked Pope Francis to withdraw his nomination, and the pope agreed.