The Vatican plans to keep a close eye on the reform process in Germany's Catholic Church, according to a joint statement published after a meeting between German bishops and representatives of the Roman Curia on Friday evening.
After conflicts had arisen in the past, both sides now spoke of a "positive, open and constructive atmosphere."
The one-day meeting in the Vatican was attended by Georg Bätzing, president of the German Bishops' Conference, and several other bishops. Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandéz, one of Pope Francis' closest allies, took part on behalf of the Vatican. The pontiff himself was not present.
In the joint declaration, both sides described it as a "great concern to strengthen synodality in the life of the Church with a view to more effective evangelization."
However, the Vatican insists that the planned synodal body in Germany will not be called the "Synodal Council" but will be given a different name. Synodality is a term used to describe the process of fraternal collaboration in the Church. A synod is an assembly or meeting, usually convened to decide on an issue.
"With regard to the position of this body, there is agreement that it is not above or equal to the [German] Bishops' Conference," the statement said. Everything will ultimately have to be approved by the pope.
In the new body, bishops and lay people are to consult and decide together in future. These plans led to a serious crisis in the German Bishops' Conference's relationship with the Vatican at the beginning of this year.
The centre of the Catholic Church considers such a strong involvement of the laity to be incompatible with canon law. Parallel to the Synodal Committee, there is now to be a commission in the Vatican.
The crisis was finally resolved in talks between the German bishops and the Roman Curia, the Vatican's central administration: The Germans promised to consult the Vatican before making any important decisions or changes.