Overview

• The Betroffenenbeirat der Deutschen Bischofskonferenz formally lodged its complaint on July 18 with the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops through Trier Bishop Stephan Ackermann.
• The complaint alleges that Woelki prioritized institutional protection over victims and retraumatized survivors through his handling of abuse cases.
• It cites Cologne prosecutors’ May finding that Woelki made objectively untrue statements under oath and settled a perjury probe with a €26,000 payment.
• The Archdiocese of Cologne rejects the charges as “offenkundig haltlos” and disputes that any legally binding conclusions were reached by prosecutors.
• Pope Leo XIV must now determine whether to initiate a Vatican-led inquiry into Woelki’s conduct under church law.