On the fifth anniversary of the devastating floods in western Germany, Trier Bishop Stephan Ackermann highlighted the widespread solidarity shown since July 2021. Speaking at an ecumenical memorial service in Altenburg, near Altenahr, he urged people to remember acts of help alongside the tragedy. The disaster claimed over 180 lives, including 135 in the Ahr valley. While President Steinmeier visited the region earlier, the central commemoration takes place in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and state Minister President Gordon Schnieder are expected to speak at the evening event on the market square.
The United Bible Societies reported that digital Bible downloads reached 26.4 million in 2025, a 1.9 percent increase from the previous year. While physical distribution remained stable at approximately 22.4 million Bibles, regional demand varies significantly. Print copies are less popular in Europe and North America, with the USA and Canada receiving 900,000 and Europe 1.08 million. In contrast, Africa and South America received 6 million and 7.47 million copies respectively. The report attributes the shift toward digital offerings to rising printing costs. The global association includes around 160 members across more than 200 countries, including the German Bible Society in Stuttgart.
The Evangelical Church in the Rhineland has been approved for 29.4 million euros in state reconstruction aid following the July 2021 floods. More than half of these funds have already been disbursed to affected congregations. The aid supports 29 communities in North Rhine-Westphalia and three in Rhineland-Palatinate. The disaster, caused by low-pressure system Bernd, resulted in at least 185 deaths across western Germany. While the Martin-Luther-Church in Bad Neuenahr remains closed five years later, the local congregation has secured approximately 2.7 million euros for renovation, though construction permits are still pending. The church leadership recently visited the region to show solidarity with victims.
A 22-year-old Swiss pop singer, Milune, filmed a provocative music video for her single inside the St. Emmeram Basilica in Regensburg, Germany, without permission. The video, which celebrates a lesbian relationship, was described as frivolous by local Catholic priest Roman Gerl. He stated that no filming permit was granted and that such content violates religious feelings. The incident has been handed over to lawyers to stop further distribution of the clip. The historic church, a significant landmark in southern Germany, typically requires content review before allowing recordings.
Five years after the devastating floods in the Ahr valley, Pastor Jörg Meyrer of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler calls for continued patience and solidarity. He reflects on the immediate rescue efforts and the recent reopening of the Laurentiuskirche as a sign of progress. Meyrer highlights the ongoing challenges, including temporary school facilities and incomplete infrastructure, ahead of an upcoming ecumenical service attended by Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Minister President Daniel Günther. He emphasizes that despite social media criticism, the support from the rest of Germany was crucial for survival and recovery. The pastor stresses that the community still needs time and resilience to overcome the lasting wounds of the disaster.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Amy W. on UnsplashPersecuted church
A pastor was released from detention in China after nearly nine months and traveled to the United States. He is the founder of a house church network. Authorities arrested him alongside nearly thirty other pastors. While he has left the country, eight members remain imprisoned. Reports indicate that charges against the remaining detainees were changed to illegal business activities and fraud, potentially leading to harsher sentences. The group states that the government views the network's size as a threat to state control over religion.
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Senad Mrkaljevic, a 41-year-old former Muslim refugee from Bosnia and Herzegovina, was ordained as a Catholic priest in Berlin. Born in Brcko, he fled the civil war to Austria and later settled in Germany. Despite initial struggles with language and a visual impairment, he converted to Catholicism as an adult. He studied theology in Lantershofen and was consecrated by Archbishop Heiner Koch at the Hedwig Cathedral. Mrkaljevic now serves as a chaplain in Berlin-Neukölln, aiming to build bridges between religious communities. His ordination is unique in Germany, though similar cases exist globally.
A 22-year-old Swiss pop singer filmed a provocative music video inside the St. Emmeram church in Regensburg, Germany, without obtaining permission from the local pastor. Roman Gerl, the parish priest, expressed shock at the content of the clip for the song 'You believe in Jesus, I believe in Pussy,' describing it as frivolous and deeply offensive to religious feelings. The church administration handed the matter to lawyers to stop further distribution of the video, which was removed from the internet by Monday. Gerl emphasized that while cultural projects are sometimes permitted, such content would never be approved.
A political activist from Myanmar is currently living in church asylum in Germany. She fled military persecution in her home country and was subsequently trafficked to Bulgaria, where she was forced into labor. Although German authorities ordered her return to Bulgaria under the Dublin Regulation, church representatives argue that deportation would endanger her life. An ecumenical network provides her with temporary protection to allow for a renewed review of her case by migration authorities. The activist hopes to eventually obtain asylum and work in healthcare in Germany.
The newly established daycare carrier Katholino in the Archdiocese of Cologne celebrated its first summer festival on Saturday afternoon at the Cologne-Kalk education campus. Approximately 1,200 attendees, including over 400 children, participated in the event featuring games and food. The gathering served as a fundraiser for the 'Zeitinsel' pediatric palliative care station in Leverkusen. All proceeds from the festival and merchandise sales will support this medical facility. Archbishop Rainer Maria Woelki opened the event with a service, emphasizing the importance of community and care for children. Katholino, which began operations in August 2025, currently manages over 100 daycare centers and aims to expand significantly by 2027.
More than fifty years after his death, Cardinal Stepan Trochta may be fully rehabilitated by a Czech court. The Litomerice district court is reviewing a prosecutor's request to clear his name regarding an illegal internment between 1950 and 1953. This period preceded his arrest and imprisonment by the communist regime in the former Czechoslovakia. The initiative came from museum director Jan Kratochvil and lawyer Lubomir Müller. Archbishop Stanislav Pribyl called the move a vital step toward justice for the bishop, who also suffered under Nazi persecution. The case highlights the systematic suppression of the church during the Cold War era in the region.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Mauro-Fabio Cilurzo on UnsplashPersecuted church
The European Parliament adopted a resolution urging the Nigerian government to better protect Christians from terrorist groups like Boko Haram and Fulani militias. The vote followed a deadly attack on a village in Plateau State, where 22 people were killed. The EU demands effective counter-terrorism measures, independent investigations, and improved land management to prevent climate-related conflicts between farmers and herders. Lawmakers also condemned rising kidnappings and violence against women. They instructed the new EU Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion, Mairead McGuinness, to focus more on Nigeria's religious situation. The resolution passed with 510 votes.
The Ukrainian government approved a resolution on July 1 to establish a national pantheon within the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra complex. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church announced the plan, which designates the site as part of the state-managed national reserve. The Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance will develop the memorial's concept, while the Ministry of Culture will select a location and organize an architectural competition. Honors are intended for individuals who contributed significantly to Ukraine's independence, state-building, and fields like science and culture. This decision intensifies ongoing tensions between authorities and the church, which claims its religious significance is being undermined by secularization and state control. (Source: DOMRADIO.DE)
Berlin Archbishop Heiner Koch urges greater societal engagement to combat homelessness in Germany. Speaking to rbb 88.8, he highlighted that the crisis disproportionately affects women, who may remain in abusive relationships or stay with acquaintances to avoid sleeping on the streets. He also noted that students and families face significant barriers, with families often excluded from housing applications. Koch emphasized that housing is a recognized human right. While immediate aid for extreme weather is necessary, he argued that homelessness requires year-round attention and structural solutions.
Following extreme heat records in Germany that caused thousands of excess deaths in late June, religious institutions are being encouraged to open their doors to the public. The article argues that church buildings provide cool, dignified refuge for workers and residents seeking relief from the temperatures. Initiatives by the EKD and Caritas support this effort, with the Osnabruck district officially designating churches as heat shelters. The author, Dominik Blum, suggests that municipalities should integrate these spaces into climate action plans, allowing people to cool down without needing to pray.
Following devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, Caritas International is providing aid to thousands of children left without parents. Jonas Brenner, the local emergency coordinator, stated that approximately 30,000 people remain missing after more than two weeks, with rescue chances considered extremely low. Consequently, the organization is shifting focus to psychosocial support and reconstruction efforts to offer hope. Since the disaster, Caritas has distributed roughly 9,000 tons of supplies, including food and hygiene kits, to about 72,000 individuals. Additionally, the group has provided over four million liters of water and medical goods, with cash distributions planned to help survivors self-sustain.
The Catholic organization Estrella del Paso in El Paso, Texas, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration after it withheld over 765,000 dollars in funding. The group provides legal aid to migrants facing deportation. Director Melissa Lopez warns that the lack of funds threatens the organization's survival and leaves thousands of people without necessary legal representation. This dispute follows a similar conflict in Florida, where Catholic Charities lost an eleven-million-dollar contract. The government claims funding decisions are discretionary. A court is scheduled to rule on the complaint in mid-July.
Following a shooting at a gymnasium in Schongau, Germany, the local Catholic parish established a 'tree of hope' for grieving residents. Parish representative Agnes Harsch told KNA that the installation allows people to hang comforting messages and prayers. The initiative follows an incident where a 16-year-old former student allegedly injured two girls with weapons. Authorities arrested the suspect, who is now in pre-trial detention. The parish canceled a planned penance service, replacing it with a prayer gathering for approximately 50 attendees. Harsch emphasized the importance of talking about trauma and noted that normal life, such as a confirmation rehearsal, continued to provide stability for the community.
A human rights organization has initiated a petition to support an 18-year-old Christian girl in Pakistan. A local court recently rejected her return to her family, drawing concern from rights advocates. The group aims to raise public awareness about her case, highlighting the broader injustices faced by religious minorities in the region. This effort underscores ongoing challenges regarding forced conversions and family reunification for Christians in the country. By increasing visibility, the organization hopes to secure a favorable outcome for the teenager and her relatives, emphasizing the urgent need for justice and protection for vulnerable believers.
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