The 100th Catholic Congress
The agenda at the German Catholic Congress in Leipzig includes church topics as well as social issues.
“Behold, the man” is the motto of the German Catholic Congress (Katholikentag) in 2016. It is the 100th Katholikentag which is organised by the Central Committee of German Catholics at different venues, normally every two years. This year’s programme is offering around 1,000 events at more than 80 venues throughout Leipzig. Panel discussions, workshops, exhibitions, concerts and church services will be giving people the opportunity to discuss the theme of “Behold, the man”, or “ecce homo”, the words used by Pontius Pilate when he presented the scourged Jesus of Nazareth to a hostile crowd.
Mutual responsibility for people around the globe
The people who gather at the Katholikentag are generally very liberal-minded and enjoy joining in discussions. This is why the gatherings address not only church topics, but also have forums focussing on contemporary political challenges. The refugee crisis, questions surrounding integration and how to deal with xenophobia are being spotlighted this year. “The main focus is not on church issues or our interests as Christians. We are concentrating instead on our mutual responsibility as Christians for political and social developments and their consequences for people around the globe,” says Professor Thomas Sternberger, President of the Central Committee of German Catholics.
For example, “The foreigner is only a foreigner in a foreign land” is the title of a panel discussion with the President of the German Bundestag Norbert Lammert, and “Do not forget our hospitality” is another event with the Federal Minister of the Interior Thomas de Maizière, Günter Burkhardt of the refugee organisation Pro Asyl and the Mayor of Leipzig Burkhard Jung. “Stand up against right-wing extremism and xenophobia” is the theme being discussed by the former President of the Bundestag Wolfgang Thierse in dialogue with partners from Saxony and Berlin. For the very first time, this year’s Katholikentag will be offering exchanges for people who do not believe in God. The most atheists in Europe currently live in the eastern parts of Germany. Thuringia’s Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow will be there to discuss: “I believe in nothing, and I lack nothing”.
100th German Catholic Congress from 25 to 29 May 2016 in Leipzig
