German Catholic Bishop Condemns Far-Right AfD as Threat to Democracy
German Catholic bishops have sharply criticized the far-right AfD party, labeling it a threat to democracy and rejecting its claims to Christian values ahead of potential state government gains.
The head of the German Bishops' Conference, Bishop Heiner Wilmer, has sharply criticized the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, accusing it of showing contempt for democracy and its principles while rejecting its claims to represent Christian values. In an interview with the Financial Times at the Teutonic College in the Vatican, Wilmer described the party as "a wolf in sheep's clothing" as it nears the prospect of entering government in the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
Wilmer stated that the church will draw firm red lines and refuse to provide a public platform to party leaders or official representatives. He noted that the party downplays the severity of Nazi-era crimes, adding that an ethno-nationalist ideology is entirely incompatible with Christianity. According to Wilmer, the party's underlying ideology consistently elevates white, male, and right-wing Germans at the expense of others, particularly immigrants. This message, he argued, stands in stark contrast to contemporary Christianity, which promotes neighborly love and solidarity with all people in need rather than exclusively with those perceived as culturally similar.
Despite this firm stance, Wilmer emphasized that the church will not close its doors to voters of these parties, but will instead seek dialogue and offer guidance. The church also intends to work with other societal forces to protect democracy in Germany and preserve European cohesion. The AfD, an anti-immigration and pro-Russian party, emerged as the largest political force in recent elections in Saxony-Anhalt, where it could soon secure Germany's first far-right state government since World War II. In national polls, the party receives around 30 percent support.
The official condemnation by the bishops' conference follows a previous denunciation in 2024. Such sharp public criticism remains unusual in Europe, where Catholic clerics typically focus on church doctrine regarding specific issues while remaining non-partisan. This intervention reflects the Vatican's broader anxiety over the rise of the far-right across the continent, ranging from the National Rally in France to Vox in Spain and national movements in Italy. Four of the European Union's five most populous member states are set to hold national elections within the next twelve months.
Pope Leo has voiced support for the concerns raised by the German bishops, stating that the combination of far-right views and a certain form of religion does not constitute an authentic expression of Christianity. His remarks followed the exclusion of clerics and lay members from a radical-conservative Catholic association, the Society of Saint Pius X, which has historical ties to the far-right in France. AfD member of parliament Maximilian Krah previously worked as a lawyer for the group.
While Wilmer acknowledged that the AfD's stances on biomedical issues, such as opposition to abortion, assisted suicide, and commercial surrogacy, align with church doctrine, he warned that this merely provides a Christian facade for an exclusionary worldview that tolerates the aggressive intimidation of its critics. In response, the AfD has called for an end to state funding for Catholic and Protestant churches and the cessation of church tax collections on their behalf. This represents a severe potential threat to the German Catholic Church, which spent more than 537 million euros on international humanitarian aid last year.
Not all senior Catholic clerics in Germany agree with the bluntness of the bishops' approach. Cardinal Gerhard Müller, former prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, warned in September against the abuse of spiritual authority for political purposes. Christian churches played a central role in absorbing one million migrants who arrived in Germany in 2015 following then-Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to accept asylum seekers from the Middle East. Recently opened Vatican archives have also brought renewed focus to the Catholic Church's response to the rise of fascism in Europe a century ago. Wilmer noted that while the church is frequently accused of failing to take a sufficiently firm stance against the Nazis, current leaders are determined to do everything possible against anti-Semitism and threats to humanity.
