With a personal letter sent yesterday to the German bishops and disclosed today, the president of the Dbk, card. Karl Lehmann, announced his resignation from his position and invited the bishops to appoint a new president at the next spring plenary meeting, due in Würzburg from 11th to 15th February. Lehmann, who had been President of the Dbk for 20 years, had already voiced his intention before and had lately confirmed it because of health problems. "The time of taking such a step is always somehow inappropriate. But it makes sense somehow", states Lehmann, who mentions the recent turnovers in the dioceses of Munich and Frisingen, Limburg and Spira, because of the "inescapable generational turnover". Lehmann ensured he is willing to serve his diocese again (Mainz) and the Bishops Conference, with special reference to the relations with the Christian Churches. "I have at heart the difficult situation of ecumenism", he added. The deputy president of the Dbk, mgr. Heinrich Mussinghoff, thanked Lehmann and stressed his "extensive theological expertise, spiritual openness, prudence, and great ability to integrate and unite".
