German bishops assure Vatican but vow to proceed with reform

Monsignor Georg Baetzing, head of the German Bishops' Conference, attends a press conference at the end of a 6-day visit of German bishops to the Vatican, including an audience with Pope Francis, in Rome, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. Top Vatican cardinals tried to put the brakes on the German Catholic Church's controversial reform process Friday, fearing proposals concerning gays, women and sexual morals will split the church and insisting they would be better debated later. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)