Since 2013, the Subcommittee on Women in the Church and Society of the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK) has regularly monitored the share of women in leadership positions in the general vicariates and ordinariates of all 27 German dioceses and archdioceses. The Subcommittee is part of the Pastoral Commission of the German Bishops’ Conference. The latest study, published today, shows that nearly one-third (32.5%) of mid- and senior-level management positions in the Church are held by women. The percentage for women in middle management roles is 34.5%, while that for women in senior management roles is 28%. Mgr Peter Kohlgraf, Bishop of Mainz and President of the Subcommittee, underlines another important development: “Eleven dioceses and archdioceses have introduced new management models with and alongside the vicar general. This allows women, such as a female Vicar General, to become visible and active as representatives of the diocesan bishop. These developments represent important steps towards greater gender equality in the Catholic Church”. However, Bishop Kohlgraf also points out that there is still room for improvement: “The increase in the share of women in leadership positions in all sectors of the Catholic Church must continue”. The Subcommittee on Women in the Church and Society will therefore continue to focus on the structural injustices affecting women in the Catholic Church. Indeed, to facilitate an increase in the share of women in diocesan leadership positions in general vicariates and ordinariates, targeted measures are being promoted such as mentoring programmes, flexible working hours models, and greater awareness of diversity. These efforts bring about cultural change in the Church and make the latter a more attractive employer. Women, lay people and the clergy, each hold about a third of senior management positions in three areas (pastoral care, personnel and education). However, in the areas of finance, control, administration and construction, there is a clear predominance of men: of the 41 positions surveyed, 32 are occupied by a layman, seven by a woman and two by a clergyman. The situation is similar to that of middle managers, although the clergy is poorly represented there.