On 20 September, in its opening session, the plenary assembly of the German Bishops’ Conference, meeting in Fulda, confirmed Cardinal Karl Lehmann, bishop of Mainz, as its President for a further six years. Cardinal Lehmann has served as President of the Bishops’ Conference since 1987; having succeeded Cardinal Josef Höffner, archbishop of Cologne, he has already been twice reconfirmed. The Vice-President of the German episcopate, Bishop Heinrich Mussinghoff of Aachen, has also been reconfirmed. Father Hans Langendörfer, secretary of the German Bishops’ Conference, and his assistant, Rainer Ilgner, have also been voted into office for a further term.
