Cardinal Mario Grech: Lay people could run parishes instead of priests

Cardinal Mario Grech was among a handful of names mentioned in Catholic circles as being a potential successor to the late Pope Francis. 

In this exclusive interview recorded inside the Vatican, Cardinal Grech says he was relieved he was not the man chosen to lead the Catholic Church. 

Cardinal Grech sheds light on the conclave that led to the election of Pope Leo XIV and also touches on various challenges the Church faces, including the problem of many priests not wanting to become bishops.  

Grech, who heads the Synod of Bishops at the Vatican, said one of its main aims is to shift the church away from clergy-heavy leadership and start to give lay people more say in decision-making in their parishes, dioceses and even in the Holy See.

Even if there is resistance to it among some clergy, the church must understand that the Holy Spirit is not the exclusive domain of priests, he insisted, and while the irreplaceable ministry of priests remains vital, there is ample work that lay people can and should be doing - not merely the day-to-day running and financial administration of a parish, but even take over some rituals and sacraments.

This includes the possibility of lay individuals, including women, administering parishes.

Drawing on an example from Switzerland where a couple effectively runs a parish with only infrequent priestly visits, presiding over christenings, funerals and weddings themselves, instead of the priest.

"The shortage of vocations can be a grace from God. Some are scandalised by these words, because it could prompt the church to recognsie and utilise the diverse gifts present among all Christians rather than concentrating power solely within the clergy," he said.

You can watch or listen to his full Times Talk interview with assistant editor Mark Laurence Zammit using the links below. 

Subscribe to the Times Talk podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.