Annual Savings of 100 Million Euros for the Cologne Archdiocese - Cologne's Archbishop to Achieve Yearly Savings of 100 Million Euros
The Archdiocese of Cologne, one of the largest Catholic dioceses in Germany, has announced plans to give up a significant portion of its properties by 2035 as part of its cost-saving measures. The decision, which is not related to expanding pastoral care for patients in hospitals and strengthening palliative care, is a part of the ongoing budget consolidation process that has been underway for three years.
Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, the Archbishop of Cologne, stated that the Archdiocese must be where it's a matter of life and death, where others might withdraw. He emphasised that the Archdiocese must do what only it can do as a church.
The properties to be given up include churches, community centres, rectories, and rental buildings within the Archdiocese. However, kindergartens and schools, which have high priority, will not be included in the plan.
The Archdiocese aims to save 100 million euros annually by 2030 compared to 2022. In 2022, the Archdiocese reported revenues of approximately 890 million euros and expenses of 954 million euros.
While the precise implementation plan is not yet detailed, common strategies among Catholic archdioceses facing financial strain include administrative consolidation, real estate optimization, school and kindergarten closures/mergers, cost-cutting in services, and fundraising and asset management.
Support for refugees remains important to the Archdiocese of Cologne, and the focus on expanding pastoral care for patients in hospitals and strengthening palliative care will continue. However, the impact on specific areas like schools, kindergartens, refugee support, and palliative care would depend on the exact measures adopted and their prioritization within the archdiocese’s budgetary goals.
For official and detailed plans, direct statements from the Archdiocese of Cologne are recommended. If no changes are made, over 50 kindergartens would have to close by 2030 in the Archdiocese of Cologne. The Archdiocese plans to give up approximately 25 percent of its properties by 2035.
The Archdiocese of Cologne, in its pursuit of savings, may consider community aid programs, such as vocational training, as a potential means to generate income and support its local community, while simultaneously focusing on business development. To fund these initiatives, the Archdiocese could explore strategies like asset management and fundraising, as part of its ongoing effort to reduce expenses by an estimated 100 million euros annually by 2030.
