Joachin Meisner Hertz, Author at ZENIT

Articles By Joachin Meisner Hertz

Cardinals and Bishops•Controversies•Dicasteries•Homosexuality

Will the Vatican sanction German bishops for blessing same-sex couples? The Pope’s Secretary of State responds

Speaking on May 7 on the sidelines of a book presentation in Rome, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, said it was “premature” to discuss sanctions against German bishops. At the same time, he carefully avoided excluding the possibility of future intervention

May 09, 2026 10:08

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Controversies

The German Belorado. Were They Manipulated? The Strange Case of the German “Rebel Nuns” in Their 80s Who Made Global Headlines

The Goldenstein case also echoes other recent conflicts in Europe involving religious communities and property disputes, such as the high-profile situation of the Poor Clares in Belorado, Spain

May 02, 2026 12:10

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Good News•Local Church

Belarus releases Discalced Carmelite friar accused of espionage

His release came within a broader exchange described as a “5-for-5” format, involving individuals convicted of espionage or related offenses in Belarus and Russia being swapped for detainees held in European Union countries and elsewhere. In total, 10 prisoners were involved across multiple jurisdictions.

May 01, 2026 16:17

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Testimonies

This is the viral video with 8.1 million views showing happy nuns eating a Turkish kebab in Germany

From the convent to viral fame: a 92-year-old nun, a kebab, and the digital face of religious life

Apr 29, 2026 10:45

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Justice and Peace

Easter Under Fire: A Fragile Truce Between Russia and Ukraine Collapses as Fighting Resumes

The symbolism of the moment was difficult to ignore. Easter, the central feast of the Christian calendar, commemorates resurrection and renewal. Yet along the front lines of a war now entering its fourth year, it instead exposed the limits of religious gestures in the absence of political convergence

Apr 14, 2026 11:36

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Cardinals and Bishops•Local Church•Vatican Diplomacy

A new papal nuncio to manage the Holy See’s relations with the progressive German episcopate

Van Megen has demonstrated awareness of the inherent tension between Rome and local Churches, acknowledging that divergences between papal teaching and pastoral practice are a recurring feature of Catholic life

Apr 11, 2026 18:10

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Cardinals and Bishops•Controversies•Local Church

Controversial Antwerp bishop expands on his idea of ordaining married men and shares his thoughts on women

Bonny proposes exploring new forms of ecclesial ministry for both men and women, particularly in light of unresolved debates about the role of women in ordained ministry

Apr 03, 2026 21:24

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Local Church•Vatican Diplomacy

Prague Blocks Vatican Pact: Confession Secrecy and Church Archives at the Heart of Constitutional Clash

The agreement, signed in Prague in October 2024 by then–Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, was intended to define the legal framework governing the Catholic Church’s status in the Czech Republic

Apr 02, 2026 21:34

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Testimonies

After Reason, What Remains? The Death of Jürgen Habermas and His Unfinished Dialogue with Faith

What endures most is perhaps not a system, but a question—one that Habermas himself left unresolved. Can modern societies, built on pluralism and procedural reason, sustain the moral depth required for their own survival? Or do they depend, in ways they cannot fully acknowledge, on traditions—religious among them—that precede and exceed rational justification?

Mar 16, 2026 10:36

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Pro Life

Luxembourg approves the killing of babies in the womb as a constitutional right

The deeper question is not only legal but anthropological. Constitutional language reflects a society’s understanding of human dignity and the role of the state in safeguarding — or limiting — individual autonomy

Mar 04, 2026 09:39

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Cardinals and Bishops•Local Church

Heiner Wilmer takes the helm of the German Bishops’ Conference: he will present the controversial Synodal Conference to the Vatican

During the same plenary assembly, the bishops approved the statutes of the future Synodal Conference, intended as a permanent body bringing together bishops and representatives of the Central Committee of German Catholics. The text has been sent to Rome for recognitio, the formal approval required for canonical validity.

Feb 25, 2026 22:44

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Local Church•Protection of vulnerable people

Catholic Church in Switzerland expands mandatory psychological evaluation as a condition for priestly ministry

Between April and December 2025, a total of 72 candidates were assessed across all dioceses in the country. The group included seminarians as well as lay pastoral workers—theologically trained collaborators who carry out catechetical, educational, and pastoral responsibilities

Feb 07, 2026 22:06

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Vatican Clarifies Iran Ambassador Controversy: Routine Diplomatic Honor Miscast as Political Endorsement

According to clarifications issued by both Vatican officials and the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See, the honor formed part of the Vatican’s longstanding diplomatic protocol: ambassadors accredited to the Holy See who complete at least two years of service commonly receive the distinction.

Leo XIV’s first book offers a glimpse into the Augustinian spirit of the new papacy

The first copy of the Italian edition was formally presented to the Pope on May 2 by Father Joseph Farrell, the current Prior General of the Augustinians, together with Father Rocco Ronzani and Vatican publishing executive Lorenzo Fazzini.