Pressreleases 2020

For the first time since the new European Commission took office, European religious leaders met for an exchange of views today on the invitation of Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas. </span>

After the death of over 90 refugees who, within 24 hours, drowned in sea accidents off the Libyan coast, Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, chair of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), has expressed his dismay at the situation in the Mediterranean.</span>

Bedford-Strohm preaches at the meeting of prayer for peace of the world religions with Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew in Rome

Shortly before Sea Watch 4 set out on its first search-and-rescue mission, Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, chair of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), gave the crew members a send-off with a travelling blessing.

The Bishops’ Conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany (VELKD) has reacted with concern to Israeli government’s announced intention to annex parts of the West Bank. They fear that this step will further exacerbate the political conflict situation in the Holy Land.

With an urgent plea that the future of people in Europe lies in Europe and should not be left to the nation states alone, Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, chair of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) and Bishop Georg Bätzing, chair of the German Bishops’ Conference, have encouraged an active design of the German presidency of the Council of the European Union.