December 25, 2024
German preachers decry war, warn against authoritarian temptation after Magdeburg
Leading German clerics focused on unrest at home and abroad in their Christmas sermons.
The chairman of the Catholic German Bishops’ Conference, Georg Bätzing, warned wars in Europe and the Middle East had unsettled millions.
“Much of what we thought was reasonably safe just a few months ago has been thrown out of balance by Russia’s blatant war of aggression against Ukraine and the armed conflicts in the Middle East, triggered by Hamas’ cruel terror against innocent Israelis,” said Bätzing, according to excerpts of the sermon distributed in advance.
Bätzing also alluded to the Magdeburg Christmas market attack, and the knife attack in Solingen earlier in the year, albeit noting they appeared to be different in nature. He warned against the urge for a supposedly strong, authoritarian hand to ensure order.
“God help us if such reactions to crises find more supporters in the upcoming federal elections,” he said.
The country’s top protestant cleric, Kirsten Fehrs, said the holiday could be an opportunity to put “all the madness” — whether oppressive violence, political disputes or other bad news — to one side for a while. She said this did not mean being indifferent.
“Rather, it is an invitation to recharge our batteries and take a fresh look at the challenges facing our world,” Fehrs said.
In Munich, Cardinal Reinhard Marx urged Christians to “not simply accept things,” and to believe in change, improvement and the future. And in Cologne, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki called for a “mobilization for peace” the world over.
