Steinmeier laments the declining influence of religious institutions.

Faith systems or practices - Steinmeier laments the diminishing influence of churches.

During the kick-off of the Catholic event, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed sadness over the dwindling significance of churches and called for a constructive discussion on the issue.

Catholics have played a significant role in society through their dedication to democracy and supporting the needy, the underprivileged, and the vulnerable. Steinmeier lamented, "I can't help but lament the considerable decline in approval and trust in churches." He added, "It's clear that a major shift has taken place."

The 103rd German Catholic Day with over 500 activities anticipates about 20,000 attendees in the Thuringian state capital by Sunday. Along with internal church issues like the abuse scandal and changes, major topics such as war and peace, populism, and democracy will be addressed.

"Is the message insufficient?"

In his pre-written speech for the inauguration, Steinmeier mentioned that some factors causing the decline are self-inflicted, such as the appalling occurrence of massive abuse and the lengthy concealment of the same. Additionally, there is growing disinterest and apathy towards religion in a significant portion of society. "Are the churches providing insufficient stimulus?" questioned the President. "Is their message too soft, too weak, too unimpressive?"

Numerous individuals seek purpose and direction in their lives, Steinmeier stated. "Our critical question as Christians and as a church should be: Do these curious seekers receive credible answers, do they encounter spiritual expertise, do they receive compassionate care in our groups, communities, and initiatives?"

"My frustration level is high"

Irme Stetter-Karp, the president of the Central Committee of Catholics and the Catholic Day, demanded more reform efforts from the church. "My frustration level is high, and I'm not alone in this," Stetter-Karp remarked before the ceremony. She expects the bishops and also the pope to "finally take a different approach." The abuse scandal has severely eroded trust, leaving the church in a state of crisis.

The Catholic Day is taking place in Erfurt for the first time - and for the first time since 2016 in profoundly secular East Germany, where Catholics are a small minority. Stetter-Karp emphasized that the Catholic Day in Erfurt isn't a home game. "But is there even a home game for Catholics in Germany anymore? I don't think so."

Ordination of women?

Erfurt's Bishop Ulrich Neymeyr also sees a pressing need for reform, especially regarding the position of women in the church. "A significant portion of Catholic men and women in Germany, as well as the bishops, wish to see a change that allows women to take on ordained roles like deaconesses," stated Neymeyr on ZDF. Within the Catholic Church, only men can be ordained as a deacon, priest, or bishop. "We're not even close to what is considered widespread agreement in society," Neymeyr observed.

Several politicians and politicians have confirmed their attendance in the coming days, including Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens). The motto for the gathering is "The future belongs to the peaceful human being." The Central Committee of German Catholics, the umbrella organization for laity in the church, has already endorsed the right to self-defense. However, they emphasized that violence should only be used if authorized by international law. Moreover, the ZdK General Assembly decided to examine the church's guilt in criminalizing queer identities in the past.

The German Bishops' Conference reported that there are 20.9 million Catholics in Germany. The Diocese of Erfurt accounts for approximately 137,000 churchgoers.