Augsburg Bishop Bertram Meier has been awarded the Dialogue Prize by the Intercultural Dialogue Center (IDIZEM) in Munich. The award, given biennially, recognizes his long-standing commitment to ecumenism and interreligious relations. Archimandrit Georgios Siomos presented the honor, praising Meier for fostering peaceful coexistence through personal encounters and mutual trust. As chair of the German Bishops' Conference commission for ecumenism and interreligious dialogue, Meier has significantly shaped religious understanding nationally and internationally. He views dialogue as concrete relationship-building rather than mere theological exchange. Meier recently described these efforts as a central concern, highlighting upcoming opportunities such as the 2030 Confessio Augustana anniversary.
Paderborn Archbishop Udo Bentz has labeled the actions of radical Israeli settlers in the West Bank as violations of international law. Speaking to the Evangelical Press Service after a recent trip to Israel, Bentz highlighted increased attacks during the olive harvest, including tree destruction and land occupation. He argued that these acts, often met with inaction by security forces, threaten Palestinian livelihoods and contradict their right to exist. Bentz also expressed concern over the emigration of Christians from the region, noting that they face discrimination from both radical Palestinian and Israeli groups. He called for immediate political and church intervention to stabilize conditions and prevent further displacement.
Translated from Deutsch
Read more →
Illustrative photo
Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Andy Køgl on UnsplashPersecuted church
Nine people were killed in a terror attack on a Greek Orthodox church in a village in Jordan. Pope Leo offered prayers for the victims following his Sunday Angelus address. The assault occurred near the main entrance of the church, where worshippers had gathered. According to authorities, three attackers arrived in a blue van; one was masked and armed with an assault rifle, while the others carried handguns. Al Jazeera reported that the gunmen fired repeatedly, even shooting at those already on the ground. Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki expressed shock and solidarity with Jordanian Christians, calling for a thorough investigation and better protection for religious sites.
Translated from DeutschAlso reported by 1 other outlet
Read more →
SermonWave writes its own short summaries and links to the original reporting. Every story belongs to the outlet that reported it. About World News · Our sources · RSS feed
