….Vatican rejects lay proposal

Roman Catholic Christians in Malawi and across the world will continue to be barred from delivering homilies during Mass after the Vatican rejected a request from Germany’s bishops to allow lay faithful to preach in special circumstances.

The decision, contained in a letter dated June 17 and released by the Vatican on June 23, 2026, was issued by the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

It directly responded to a proposal from the German Bishops’ Conference seeking permission for selected lay people to preach during the Eucharist.

The Vatican turned down the request, stating that “it is not possible to grant the indult requested,” effectively maintaining the global rule that only priests and deacons may preach during Mass in Catholic churches, including those in Malawi.

The German proposal, submitted on March 30 and signed by Bishop Heiner Wilmer, president of the German Bishops’ Conference, had asked for an exception to allow a duly appointed layperson to give the homily when necessary.

‘Homily belongs to ordained ministers’

In its response, the Vatican said the matter goes beyond church administration, stressing that the homily is tied to the very nature of Catholic worship.

It said the reservation of the homily to priests and deacons “is not a merely disciplinary norm, but derives from the very nature of the liturgy.”

The dicastery explained that the homily forms part of the Liturgy of the Word and is closely linked to the proclamation of the Gospel, forming part of the teaching authority given to ordained ministers through Holy Orders.

It further noted that preaching during Mass cannot be separated from the sacramental role of the priesthood, describing the Word and the Eucharist as inseparable elements of the liturgy.

No exception granted

Although the German bishops cited pastoral needs for the request, the Vatican said the current Church discipline does not allow for exceptions on this point.

It added that it appreciated the pastoral concerns behind the proposal but insisted the rule remains binding across the universal Church.

The letter also pointed to the need for continued formation of priests, saying this would help ensure that homilies remain “pastorally and spiritually effective.”

Lay preaching still permitted outside Mass

The Vatican clarified, however, that lay Catholics are still allowed to preach and share reflections in other settings outside the celebration of Mass.

It said there are “numerous forms of proclamation of the Word and preaching that can be entrusted to the lay faithful outside the homily and outside the celebration of the Eucharist,” provided they follow Church law.