Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, Archbishop of Cologne, has pointed to evangelization as the axis that will mark the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, whom he considers fully aware of the urgency of proclaiming Christ in an increasingly secularized world. He stated this in statements to DomRadio, on the occasion of a reflection on the current situation of the Church.
For Woelki, the election of Leo XIV comes at a decisive moment, in which broad sectors of society have lost contact with the fundamental questions of faith and Christianity has largely disappeared from the public space. In this context, he maintains that the new Pope brings a clear pastoral gaze on the essential mission of the Church.
Evangelization, axis of the pontificate
According to the German cardinal, Leo XIV knows from direct experience “how urgently the world needs the message of Jesus Christ.” Hence, evangelization is for him a central priority. Woelki states that this approach will not be marginal, but determining: “I believe that evangelization will be the theme that marks his pontificate.”
This conviction is supported by an understanding of evangelization not as a one-off strategy, but as the core of ecclesial identity. On this point, Woelki refers to the classical magisterium of Evangelii Nuntiandi, recalling that the Church “exists to evangelize” and that in this lies its fidelity to its own mission.
A Church called to give clear witness
Woelki emphasizes that the evangelizing emphasis of Pope Leo XIV faces a cultural environment profoundly different from that of decades past. Many people, he notes, no longer have natural access to faith or its basic categories. However, he insists that the human thirst for meaning, love, and communion remains intact.
In the face of this reality, the cardinal argues that the Church cannot respond with empty discourses or superficial adaptations, but with the visible witness of a faith lived with conviction. In this sense, he criticizes a certain ecclesial timidity: “We often lack the courage to show our faith with joy and full conviction.”
Evangelization and sacramental life
Woelki stresses that evangelization is above all a spiritual task. He recalls that God is really present in the Church, especially in the sacraments and, in a central way, in the Eucharist. From there, he affirms, every authentic evangelizing renewal is born.
Likewise, he maintains that evangelization is not reduced to isolated projects, but must permeate the ordinary life of the Church. For this reason, while recognizing the need for responsible planning and prudent use of resources, he warns against the risk of losing sight of the essential goal: making Jesus Christ visible and leading people toward Him.
Hope beyond numbers
Although the Church in Germany continues to lose faithful, Woelki does not link the credibility of the Christian proclamation to the size of the institution. In his view, the deep search for God inscribed in the human heart guarantees that there will always be points of encounter for the Gospel.
In that task, he concludes, the pontificate of Leo XIV can offer clear guidance: a Church aware of its mission, centered on Christ, and determined to evangelize without complexes, even in an adverse context.